A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Clement Jimbo, has called for urgent legal and constitutional reforms to curb the growing trend of misinterpreting court judgments, citing the recent controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Appearing on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Friday, Jimbo expressed concern over the fallout of a Federal High Court ruling that led to confusion over Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s status at the National Assembly.
The lawmaker, who represents Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, said the conflicting interpretations of the judgment by the senator and the Senate had resulted in a constitutional standoff.
“A resolution of the National Assembly should be reached. And part of the resolution that I will suggest to Parliament is that the constitutional review committee, in conjunction with the Committee on Judiciary, should come up with an ad hoc committee to review relevant sections of our constitution and laws,” he said.
Jimbo argued that judges should be mandated to write judgments in “clear, unambiguous language” to prevent disputes over implementation.
The controversy arose after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to resume duties based on her interpretation of the court’s ruling. However, she was stopped by Senate security officials, with the Senate insisting that the judgment did not explicitly order her reinstatement.
While affirming the independence of the judiciary, Jimbo stressed that clarity in court rulings is crucial to avoid public confusion and institutional conflicts.
His remarks come as calls grow louder for a more transparent and accessible legal system that can withstand political pressures and ensure justice is clearly understood and implemented.
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