Soyinka Says He Would Die Happy If Government Obeys Court Judgments

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has said he would die a happy man if the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) could address the persistent failure of government agencies to comply with court judgments in Nigeria.

The renowned playwright and author expressed concern over the delay in enforcing court decisions, noting that many Nigerians suffer for years while waiting for justice, even after winning legal battles.

Soyinka made the remarks on Thursday while delivering a goodwill message at the inaugural Nigerian Ombudsman Annual Conference organised by the Public Complaints Commission in Abuja.

He challenged the commission to prioritise the enforcement of court judgments, particularly those involving government institutions, describing the failure to implement judicial decisions as a major problem affecting the country’s justice system.

“If you can solve that for me, believe me, I will die happy,” Soyinka said.

The Nobel Laureate questioned why the judicial system could deliver a judgment without ensuring that the affected parties, especially victims who had gone through lengthy legal proceedings, received the benefits of the court’s decision.

He also expressed concern that government agencies sometimes disregard judgments delivered by competent courts, leaving citizens without the relief granted to them by the judiciary.

“Why is it that we cannot guarantee the implementation of the declaration of a judgment between the plaintiff, between the judgment itself, between the judges, the structure of justice and the victim?” he asked.

Soyinka further lamented that some Nigerians had died without enjoying the benefits of the justice they had fought for over several years.

“Why is it that people we know have actually died without seeing the fruits of their endeavours for justice?” he queried.

To illustrate the problem, he cited cases in which citizens had waited for years for government agencies to obey court orders, including directives requiring the return of confiscated passports.

He described such delayed compliance as “medicine after death,” stressing that justice loses its purpose when those entitled to relief are forced to wait indefinitely before receiving it.

According to Soyinka, the Public Complaints Commission should take the issue seriously and work towards ensuring that court judgments are implemented promptly, particularly when government institutions are involved.

He maintained that closing the gap between the delivery of judgments and their actual enforcement would help protect citizens’ rights and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.

The conference provided an opportunity to highlight the role of the ombudsman institution in addressing complaints against public institutions and promoting accountability in governance.