"The Fear Of Unizik Judiciary is the beginning of WISDOM" Says The Chief Judge, S.U.G - Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

The Unizik Campus Online Forum had an impromptu e-interview with the S.U.G Chief Judge yesterday, Thursday, 23rd October, 2014. 

You can see for yourself then comment accordingly.

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Can we meet you sir

I am I. A. Muoneme a final year law student and by special the grace of God, I’m the SUG Chief Judge Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and the Founder Elite Youth Forum of Nigeria. Thank you.

You're welcome sir

Sir, how has it been so far as the SUG chief judge?

Or breaking it to bits, what's the level before your tenure and now?

Since i entered office i must confess that it has not been easy, the Union i met was a dormant union where students welfare was not placed as the priority. It was not easy, the three arms of government started with much anticipation and  euphoria to serve with enthusiasm.  I looked at the system and i noticed it was battered, first thing i did was to set up a fact finding committee, they recommended for setting up of magistrate court and various faculties for easy dispensation of justice. I must confess that this is a union were the students don't even know about the Judiciary, the government focus more centered on the president and executive. I told my judges that if they were not ready to serve the students they should be ready to be abandoned.

We went into the field we set up magistrate court in various faculties in the campus, due to stiff resistance from my fellow judges who don't know how the judiciary arm of government operates because they lack that knowledge of the law, being selected from various faculties, it was challenging and quite tasking to me but i never minded. I brought in the magistrate and mobile court for sanitation. It does not end at that point, i have that dream of Unizik being one of the cleanest university in Africa, but due to there was no Sanitation law, I set up a committee to draft a sanitation bill and send to the house to pass into law, the committee headed by Chidiebere Okaro who did a wonderful job but due to the slow and lackadaisical attitude in the system, was not sign into law and we miss that chance and dream of working for the student.

I looked at the Union constitution though very deficient i picked it and notice that the law is being floated even up to date. I have to act especially with regards to secure the union fund may i let you to know that the system is bastardized and corrupt because the system have been decayed before we came in. I have to intervene through SRC law and court injunction.

Good one from you sir. May be you can enlighten us a little bit. The judiciary we all sing there function as interpreters of the Law. Even a government student in the high school appreciates that. Can we be educated?  Why SUG judiciary? What are they doing there?

Some people are of the opinion that we are only filling up positions and maybe some, we’re creating offices to eat money. Lol

Is like giving the Executive an automatic ticket to do whatever they wish, a system with the judiciary is autocratic where there is no Judiciary the executive excesses cannot be checkmated and thus the law will be trampled upon. It was under my regime that the judiciary looked the presidency into his eyes and told him that he must follow the law. Our court injunction that forced them to be paying the union fund into our account is there for you to see, If not the money will be going into someone’s pocket.

When there was financial crisis in the union between the Executive and SRC, the Judiciary intervened to be the arbitrator between the two arms. If not the judiciary i bet you that the union will collapse and degenerate into crisis because we all know that the Executive and SRC can never agree and if not well handled, there will be crisis in the union. NIGERIA IS AN illustration, what is happening between GEJ and House of Rep.... If there is no judiciary then the union cannot stand because the union will collapse that is why lord denning said that u cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand, definitely it will collapse.

We intervene and interpret the union constitution, we fight for the interest of our students, we help to weather the storm between the students and the University managementLet me give u an instance, under me i took up the fight that the fundamental rights of every Unizik student must be respected, especially the harassment, brutality and intimidation of our students; i took it up as a personal fight. I have a lot of cases and which the University authority is handling. I remember a case of a student that was brutally manhandled on eve of Easter night. I took up the matter and those people that are involved knew what they are facing, what of Ezebuilo lodge i took the case direct to the VC and now people will say that the fear of Unizik Judiciary is the beginning of wisdom.

Let me state it clear that the Judiciary is the most maltreated in terms of fund. Nobody goes into the union to make money, if others do, they have their conscience and integrity to face... I entered the union to serve and i see union money as chicken change, in fact from the day i entered the union i committed my money into the union. I have a future and came to serve and not to make money.

We have no access to union account unlike others and so i hate that notion that i came to make money because as far as am concerned i am yet to see the money the union gives. There might be though but that’s not my priority.

Thank you sir.

Before now, have you had leadership experience especially among the youths?

Sure i have, i was the founding NFCS Coordinator of fat growing St Lucy Catholic Church ifite and former Chairman station council, we started from the scratch to build that church and right now, catholic students in ifite can testify to that. I’m also the Key Founder, Elite Youth Forum of Nigeria, one of the fastest growing youth forum and also the National Secretary of my Secondary School old boys association, so by God's grace i think am well entrenched in terms of youth leadership.

We must applaud your being at the national youth summit in Abuja despite all challenges. Sir, What’s your inspiration?

Yes, i am happy you mentioned that youths summit, it is not by my power that i was among the delegates that went for the National Youth Summit, but it was by God's grace, i can boldly tell you that i went for that Summit funding myself from beginning till the end, no support from the union or university, may be it is because it was the chief judge that was selected or appointed to lead the team. I was given nothing, i went to that summit seeing my mates even from outside the country, even those from UNN our neighbors came with their University Utility vehicle, Lagos State University and Unilag came along with full support from the university but the SUG Chief Judge Unizik led his team spending from his pocket to that Summit, entering Abuja costly Taxi cab, the Presidency went for NANS convention in Asaba and was given close to 250k, is it fair? May be because he is the executive leader? So the Chief Judge has no business or is not worthy of being chosen among millions of Nigerian youths to attend the Youth Centenary Summit?  I spent close to 80-100k from my personal pocket if not for special intervention from good spirited Nigerian like my principal and senior counsel Prince Chinedu Idigo and Dr Philip Atanmuo the Isimmiri from Ogidi that gave me support as they could. Despite all challenges as you said, a leader with future does not allow himself to be cowed, what makes you a leader is how you stand to face the challenges, may i let you know that i left to Abuja with just 5k in my pocket but i never cared what was going to be the outcome because this is a call to serve, due to the type of family and brothers i have, they gave me all the necessary back up. “O dilo easy!!!” I was greatly inspired by Martin Lurther King Junior who said that leadership skill is not all about wealth alone but experience and quality. I believe in the words of Nelson Mandela- “Great men are those who are able to pass through the eye of needle in terms of storm and crisis...” I believe that nothing good comes easy. It takes a lot to be at the Sky and you have to target beyond the sky and do not make the sky your limit, unleash what you have in you. The Journey of million miles starts with a step. Throughout those challenging times, i went to the summit and represented myself and the institution to the best of my knowledge and the result of that summit is already and will soon manifest.
One person that inspires me most is my creator

Sir, before we dot this moment, just give us few words for young leaders

All i have to say is that we should remain focused and believe in yourselves...

Go for whatever positive you want to get and as a young leader dream of making impact. Remember the interest of the people first before ours. Thank you.

You are welcome sir, it’s a pleasure having you sir. And of all tight schedule, we appreciate you more for your time. All the Best sir

LONG LIVE S.U.G JUDICIARY

LONG LIVE S.U.G UNIZIK

LONG LIVE GREAT UNIZIK

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