IBIAM, AGMA JACOB1, ODOH, TIMOTHY AMEH2 AND ENWEREM ANTHONY FRIDAY3
1&2Department of Public Administration, AkanuIbiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State
3Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, AkanuIbiam International Airport, Enugu Corresponding Author’s email: timothyameh101@gmail.com
Abstract
The judiciary remains one of the three arms of government vested with constitutional powers to interpret law, administer justice and punish offenders. It is consequently rationally justifiable that the constitution to an extent provided measures to ensure its autonomy or independence so as to enhance separation of powers and checks and balances for purposes of good governance and sustainable development. It is however worrisome that the autonomy of the judiciary has continued to hang in the balance and at the mercy of the executive arm upon which it has continued to depend on for funding and appointment of judges, among others.. The finding shows that these adversely affect the role of the judiciary in building a sustainable national democracy.. The paper affirmed that judiciary is the guardian and protector of fundamental human rights as well as the arbiter of disputes among all levels of government. This is why the judiciary ought to beautonomous and independent so as to be free to perform its functions without fear or favour. The paper made some recommendations that the appointment, promotion and dismissal of judicial officers should be clearly removed from the control of the executive arm of government. The constitutional provisions mandating that funds for judges of superior courts should be drawn from the consolidated Revenue Fund should be enforced across levels of government and same should be extended to judges of inferior courts, among others.