NBA Asks NJC To Weed Out Corrupt Judges
The judiciary on Monday at the special session to mark the 2020/2021 new legal year highlighted what is required to clean up the industry so as to move the country forward.
While the lawyers sought a clean up of the bench which it said currently stinks, the bench warned the executive branch to respect the court and stop flagrant disobedience by people in authority.
From the federal government, however, lawyers are asked to exhibit the highest form of decorum, discipline and dedication to the course of justice.
At the event which also coincided with the swearing-in of 72 senior lawyers that were recently elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, (LPPC), the President, Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Olumide Akpata, urged the National Judicial Council, (NJC), to weed out corrupt elements from the bench.
The request by the legal body is predicated on a recently released report that ranked the Judiciary at the top of the Nigeria Corruption Index between 2018 and 2020 and that also claimed that over N9 billion was offered or demanded and paid as a bribe to Judges by lawyers in Nigeria.
“This shows that there is still a lot of work to be done in rooting out this monster in our justice delivery system”, noted Akpata who stated that the position of the Bar that the process prescribed by law for investigating and disciplining errant judicial officers must be handled by the NJC to secure the independence of the judiciary.
“The NJC must, however, continue to utilise and constantly oil the internal self-regulating powers vested in the Council by law to weed out the few bad eggs who give the Judiciary a bad name.
“This is the only way to strengthen public confidence in the institution”, the NBA added, even as it called for a comprehensive solution to the problem of delay and congestion of cases in dockets of Courts.
Meanwhile, in his speech, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad said the judiciary would no longer tolerate what he termed as flagrant disobedience of lawful court orders by persons in the position of authority.
The second-highest-ranking Justice of the apex court, Olabode Rhodes-Vivour who represented the CJN noted that “Obedience of lawful court orders has no alternative in any sane society. A threat to this is simply a call for anarchy. I believe strongly that there is no right-thinking citizen of this country who will treat that path of infamy.
He called for respect and that all must duly observe all the tenets of an enduring democracy, stating that Nigeria is not a lawless society and no one, irrespective of his or her status, should turn it into one.
“Most times, some persons who, by a sheer stroke of providence, find themselves in a position of authority, flagrantly disobey lawful court orders, and even make a boast of it.
“Such acts will henceforth not be condoned. In fact, they will be met with severe consequences. We must extinguish such raging fire before it consumes us.
“Some people have now found pleasure in invading courtrooms and even assaulting judges. The Correctional Centers are not there for decoration, such literally incorrigible and obstinate elements in our midst must be tutored in those centres to deter the several others eagerly waiting in the queue to embark on such inglorious expedition. The court will not only bark but will bite harder and deeper too”.
He disclosed that a total of 908 cases comprising of motions and appeals, were brought before the Supreme Court in the last legal year that ended on September 11.
“Out of this number, we heard 497 civil, 168 criminal and 35 political, this amounting to a total of 700 motions.
The court also considered a total number of 208 appeals comprising 134 civil, 52 criminal and 22 political. In all, a total number of 189 judgements were given with the legal year under review”, the CJN added.
He advocated for improved welfare package for judges, stating that, “The paltry sum of money being collected as monthly salaries is an issue that needs urgent redress. The annual budget has been on a steady decline, and that has adversely affected the state of infrastructure in our courts”.
The CJN also ordered an expedited trial of all pending cases bordering on corruption, kidnapping, terrorism, sexual and gender-based violence, which he noted, have continued to occupy the front burner of national discourse, and for which he advocated stringent measures “to deter several other misguided elements from treading that path”.
He urged the Executive and Legislative arms of the government to join hands with the judiciary to rid the country “of these evils”.
“The Judiciary under our watch will always work assiduously to ensure that every citizen upholds and respects the Constitution and rule of law which are the pivot upon which every society operates. We must always conduct ourselves in a manner that makes us all equal before the laws of the land”, the CJN added.
His directive for fast track of trial of pending cases came as the Supreme Court held a special session to mark the 2020/2021 new legal year.
In a speech he presented at the occasion, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, urged the new SANs to exhibit the highest form of decorum, discipline and dedication to the course of justice.
“In addition, be reminded that your new status confers no immunity from the disciplinary processes of our noble profession. I however trust that you shall not be found wanting in meeting the high demands of your new privileged status”, the AGF added.
Meantime, among the new SANs that were sworn in on Monday included the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Attorneys-General of Akwa Ibom and Delta states, Peter Mrakpor, former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Babatunde Ogala, as well as two former General Secretaries of the NBA, Isiaka Olagunju and Afam Osigwe.
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