Judiciary reform committee submits report to CJN

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has
received the report of the 13-man Steering Committee which he set
up to review and make recommendations on the operations of the
judiciary arm of government.

The CJN’s Senior Special Assistant (Media), Mr. Awassam Bassey,
said in a statement on Sunday that the committee led by the
Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, Mrs. Bilkisu
Bashir, submitted its report on Friday.

The committee inaugurated on June 5, 2017, was tasked by the CJN
to among others “coordinate a comprehensive reform of the country’s
judiciary.”

While submitting the report on Friday, the chairman of the
committee said her team consulted with former CJNs, as well as
retired and serving judges of various courts before arriving at the
recommendations contained in the report.

She was quoted as saying, “From the discussions we had with the
stakeholders, it is obvious that everyone wants to key into this
reform programme of the Hon CJN. Committee members contributed
immensely. Arguments for and against were very educative and
instructive.

“We thank you for the opportunity you gave to us to contribute
to the good of the federal judiciary and to the Nigerian judiciary
as a whole.”

Responding, the CJN commended the committee for their work.

He told the committee members, who were drawn from various
judiciary institutions, that the solution to the problems in the
judiciary must come within the arm of government.

The CJN said, “You were carefully chosen for the assignment
basically because you are the engine room of the federal judiciary.
You are in the administration; you have been in the
administration.

“You ought to know what our problems are, because as they say,
the wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches.

“At least, it is our duty to lay the first foundation for
solving our problem; nobody can come from outside to salvage the
Nigerian judiciary. The solution must come from within us.

“We have to do so because if we don’t do so, the whole edifice
will fall on our heads and we will have ourselves to blame.

“I’m grateful for the sacrifices you have made and I’m glad that
you are part of the signpost put for me as I navigate and I seek
for your continued support and prayers.”

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has
received the report of the 13-man Steering Committee which he set
up to review and make recommendations on the operations of the
judiciary arm of government.

The CJN’s Senior Special Assistant (Media), Mr. Awassam Bassey,
said in a statement on Sunday that the committee led by the
Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, Mrs. Bilkisu
Bashir, submitted its report on Friday.

The committee inaugurated on June 5, 2017, was tasked by the CJN
to among others “coordinate a comprehensive reform of the country’s
judiciary.”

While submitting the report on Friday, the chairman of the
committee said her team consulted with former CJNs, as well as
retired and serving judges of various courts before arriving at the
recommendations contained in the report.

She was quoted as saying, “From the discussions we had with the
stakeholders, it is obvious that everyone wants to key into this
reform programme of the Hon CJN. Committee members contributed
immensely. Arguments for and against were very educative and
instructive.

“We thank you for the opportunity you gave to us to contribute
to the good of the federal judiciary and to the Nigerian judiciary
as a whole.”

Responding, the CJN commended the committee for their work.

He told the committee members, who were drawn from various
judiciary institutions, that the solution to the problems in the
judiciary must come within the arm of government.

The CJN said, “You were carefully chosen for the assignment
basically because you are the engine room of the federal judiciary.
You are in the administration; you have been in the
administration.

“You ought to know what our problems are, because as they say,
the wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches.

“At least, it is our duty to lay the first foundation for
solving our problem; nobody can come from outside to salvage the
Nigerian judiciary. The solution must come from within us.

“We have to do so because if we don’t do so, the whole edifice
will fall on our heads and we will have ourselves to blame.

“I’m grateful for the sacrifices you have made and I’m glad that
you are part of the signpost put for me as I navigate and I seek
for your continued support and prayers.”