Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and economist, Atedo Peterside, has called for disciplinary action against judges who deliver what he described as questionable judgments, saying Nigeria’s judiciary cannot rely only on appeal courts to correct judicial errors.
Peterside made the call on Saturday in a post on X while reacting to the recent Federal High Court ruling in Lokoja, Kogi State, which set aside an earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
According to the investment banker, relying solely on higher courts to overturn controversial judgments encourages some judges to continue delivering decisions that may have been influenced by improper considerations.
He argued that disciplinary measures against judicial officers found to have acted improperly would help restore public confidence in the judiciary and discourage what he called “judicial rascality.”
“The cure for Judicial Rascality is disciplinary action,” Peterside wrote.
“Glossing over rascality whilst relying on Appeal Courts alone to overturn obnoxious judgements encourages more judges to go into the lucrative business of delivering procurable obnoxious judgements.”
His comments came in response to an earlier post by former Senator representing Ekiti South, Sola Akinyede, who criticised the latest court ruling and expressed concern over what he described as the declining integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system.
Akinyede argued that the strength of any judicial system lies not only in the ability of appellate courts to reverse wrong decisions but also in the integrity and professionalism of judges at every level.
He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to ensure that judicial officers uphold the highest ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.
“Sad. Judicial systems are not sustained by the corrective powers of their appellate system, but by judicial decency and integrity. Until the CJN enforces these qualities, the Nigerian Judiciary will continue on its journey of self-destruction, igniting the truncation of our democracy,” Akinyede wrote.
Peterside agreed with the former lawmaker’s position, saying stronger internal disciplinary mechanisms were necessary to protect the credibility of the courts.
The controversy followed Friday’s judgment by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja.
The judge set aside an earlier judgment delivered on December 10, 2025, which had ordered INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party.
Justice Dashen ruled that the earlier decision affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which had not been joined in the original suit despite claiming ownership of the political party logo relied upon in obtaining the registration order.
According to the court, proceeding without hearing the Peace Movement Party amounted to a denial of fair hearing, a constitutional right guaranteed to every party whose interests may be affected by a court decision.
The judge consequently ordered that all parties return to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive case be heard afresh with all necessary parties included in the proceedings.
The ruling has temporarily put the registration of the NDC on hold pending the outcome of the fresh hearing.
The decision has also generated widespread political debate because of the NDC’s reported emergence as a platform expected to play a significant role in the build-up to the 2027 general election.
The party has reportedly adopted former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as its vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, although the legal uncertainty surrounding the party’s registration has now raised fresh questions about its immediate future.
The latest court decision has attracted reactions from politicians, lawyers, civil society groups and public commentators, with many expressing concern over its implications for Nigeria’s democratic process and the independence of the judiciary.
The Nigerian judiciary has in recent years come under increasing public scrutiny over conflicting judgments, allegations of political interference and concerns about delays in the administration of justice.
The National Judicial Council (NJC), which is responsible for disciplining judicial officers, has on several occasions sanctioned judges found guilty of misconduct, abuse of office or ethical violations. However, critics have continued to call for stronger and more consistent disciplinary measures to improve public confidence in the courts.
Peterside’s latest comments add to the growing public debate over judicial accountability, especially as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election continue to gather momentum.
With the Federal High Court ordering a fresh hearing involving all parties, attention will now shift to the next stage of the legal battle, which is expected to determine whether the Nigeria Democratic Congress will eventually secure registration as a political party.