I won’t succumb to blackmail...- Adams Oshiomhole

I won’t succumb to blackmail on independence of judiciary... 

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has said he will not succumb to blackmail by the state branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on its call for financial autonomy for the judiciary, saying he will not surrender the authority of the state to employees, who have chosen to use union actions to canvass non-union issues.
Speaking yesterday during the swearing-in of the Judicial Service Commission at the Government House, Oshiomhole said: “I want to publicly assure you that I am convinced that it is only reasonable and sensible for government to put in place a formula that will guarantee the independence of the judicial officers that he or she can perform his or her duties without fear of the executive and without being at the mercy of the executive.

“I remain committed to that and I remain committed to ensuring that this is done while I am here and it will be done because we are convinced about it.

“I think the state must resist blackmail as a matter of policy. Once blackmail is off the way, we have sufficient goodwill to solve this and other problems and I want to assure my Lord that this government under my stewardship will continue to respect the independence of the judiciary. It is not an act of favour, it is what the constitution dictates and it is also what makes sense and myself being a beneficiary of a courageous judiciary, I will do nothing to weaken the capacity of the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favour. I ask you to take this for granted, it is unconditional and we will do everything to sustain it...