CRISIS: President Impeached by lawmakers/Osibanjo accuses Court of inconsistencies

Lawmakers in Peru voted Friday to remove President Dina Boluarte, whose term has been marked by protests and accusations of failing to stem crime. Boluarte refused to appear before Congress for an overnight hearing, after a majority of lawmakers, including some once loyal to her, voted to initiate impeachment proceedings.

They summoned Boluarte to appear before Congress at 11:30 pm (0430 GMT Friday), but she skipped the proceedings, which ended with 118 lawmakers voting for her impeachment. “The president’s impeachment has been approved,” announced Congress leader Jose Jeri, who could take over as interim president until elections in April 2026. Protests have marked Boluarte’s presidency, along with various scandals, investigations and a surge in gang violence.

She had already faced down multiple attempts to remove her from office. The latest effort cited her “permanent moral incapacity” to carry out her duties since assuming office in December 2022. Peru has had six presidents in about nine years.

Boluarte, who took office after her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was impeached over a crackdown on protests that killed at least 50 people, had seen her approval rating plummet. She is the subject of multiple probes, including one for her alleged failure to declare gifts of luxury jewels and watches, a scandal dubbed “Rolexgate.” She also gave herself a large pay increase in July.

Anti-government protests have mounted in recent weeks after the government passed a law on September 5 requiring young people to contribute to private pension funds, despite job insecurity and an unofficial employment rate of more than 70 per cent. Protests have also escalated over the past six months in the wake of a wave of extortion and murders by organised crime groups.

I’m another development:

Osinbajo accuses Supreme Court of inconsistency

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s legal and judicial philosophy, especially the tendency of courts prioritising technicalities over substantive justice. Osinbajo, a professor of law, spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the second Prof. Yusuf Ali’s Annual Lecture organised by the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

The former Vice President said the essence of any justice system is to serve the people, not to glorify procedural formalities. He expressed concern that many judicial decisions, including those of the Supreme Court, often leaned towards form rather than substance.

“Even English courts, whose practices we inherited, have evolved beyond such rigid technicalities by allowing amendments at any stage to ensure justice is done,” he said. Osinbajo posited that Nigeria’s continued attachment to outdated technicalities undermined justice and eroded public trust in the judiciary.

“In view of this, I urge legal practitioners, academics, and policymakers to adopt critical, decolonised thinking to reform legal education, legal practice, and the administration of justice,” he said..

“Though the Supreme Court has occasionally adopted a more flexible approach, particularly in electoral matters, inconsistency remains a major concern.

“It is important to note that a justice system that glorifies form over substance risks losing its relevance and effectiveness,” he said.