ABSTRACT

Abstract

This paper has three focal points and depends largely on secondary sources for its analytical discourse. It undertakes a critical review of Nigeria’s judiciary in the quest for democratic consolidation vis-à-vis the tenets of democracy. It also attempts an in-depth and dispassionate overview of the linkage between democracy and judiciary. The paper infers that democracy is about politics and that politics is about conflict generation and resolution hence any disagreement that devoid political resolution requires constitutional interpretation so as to avoid a recourse to a state of 'nature'/lawlessness. This, we argue is antithetical to democratic virtues and that if not checked, a return to autocracy is imminent. The third focal issue dwells on the challenges before the judiciary with a view to providing options for addressing the hindrance. It is held that given its constitutional roles of conflict resolution, the judiciary has fared better and consolidating democracy is a factor of varied myriads. Thus, the role of the judiciary and other stakeholders can not be underestimated if the Nigerian State does not want recourse to military dictatorship.

Keywords: Democracy; Judiciary; Consolidation; Corruption; Nigeria.