In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday the 11th of December, 2025, the Convener of the Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association to come to aid of Nigerians who are roting in prison when they have not been convicted, saying that the obnoxious bail conditions of some Judges of the Federal High Court is an affront on the Constitution and a breach of the Fundamental Human Rights of Citizens, saying thar the Obnoxious Bail Conditions is Breach of the Oath of Office and a Breach of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers subscribed to by My Lords .
The Statementb reads in part :
“My Lord, the Chief Justuce of Nigeria, the President of the NBA, Law is not a business. It is a calling .Being a lawyer is like being a priest or a doctor because as Lawyers we protect rights and save lives.
My Lord, Mr Present, hundreds of Nigerians are roting in Nigerian Jails due to the obnoxious conditions of My Lords, Some Judges of the Federal High Courts, who make very stringent bail.conditions, they themselves can not meet, if the table is turned. Now see this as a Bail Condition :
Bail is granted in the sum of 5 Million Naira, 2 sureties in Like sum, Surety to be gainfully employed, Surety to depose to an Affidavit, the banks of the Sureties to verify their residential addresses of the sureties and give reports to the registry of courts, the mobile network of the sureties to verify the addresses of the surefire abs give reports to the court, the National Identity Management Commission in Abuja or Regional Pffice, to verify the addresses of the sureties and give reports to Court, the Registrar of Court to verify the addresses of the Sureties and make a report to cour, surety and Defendant to deposit passports to court.
In some cases, some Judges asks Prosecutors who are parties to the matter to verify the sureties of their adversaries
This situation calls for an urgent intervention as many homes are in ruins, children are out of school and businesses are closed, due to the remand of citizens tied to these obnoxious bail conditions ,which are not in any way created by any written law”.
The Statement concluded.
