A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Clement Jimbo, has called for urgent legal reforms to stop the misinterpretation of court judgments in Nigeria.
Jimbo, who represents Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, made this known on Friday while speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme. His comments follow the recent controversy surrounding the court judgment involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Nigerian Senate.
The Federal High Court had delivered a ruling that led to confusion over Senator Natasha’s status. While she interpreted the judgment as a green light to resume her duties at the Senate, the Senate maintained that the ruling did not order her reinstatement. Security personnel later barred her from entering the Senate chamber.
Reacting to the incident, Hon. Jimbo said the confusion highlights the urgent need to review the way judgments are written in Nigeria. He suggested that the National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee, in collaboration with the Judiciary Committee, should form a special ad hoc panel to recommend clear guidelines for writing court decisions.
“We must ensure judgments are written without ambiguity. They must be direct and clear to avoid misinterpretation,” Jimbo said. “Our judges need a standard template that leaves no room for confusion.”
He stressed that while the judiciary must remain independent, its decisions must also be understandable to both the public and the institutions affected.
The Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan case has sparked national debate, with many calling for more transparent legal processes and clearer rulings from Nigerian courts.
