Nigeria, June 29 -- The gavel is one of the most powerful symbols of constitutional democracy. Its authority does not derive from the force with which it strikes, but from the public confidence reposed in its impartiality. Only when that confidence endures does democracy flourish.

In advance democracies, the sound of the gavel reassures citizens that justice has prevailed over power. In more fragile democracies such as Nigeria, however, the same sound can provoke anxiety, anger and doubt raising questions about the possible "repurposing" of the courtroom to an arena for partisan politics by judges who like Caesar's wife were expected to be above board.

The recent decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja to set aside its Dec...