The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, declared
on Monday that the future of the Nigerian judiciary under his watch
is bright.
He said since being appointed, his focus had been on reinventing
the processes of the judiciary, to ensure speedy justice
dispensation and to rid the institution of corruption.
Muhammad spoke in Lagos at the opening ceremony of the 2019
edition of the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference
holding at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island.
While describing the theme of the conference, “Facing the
Future,” as apt, the CJN said though some, out of pessimism or
timidity, might describe the future as bleak, “for the judiciary,
under our watch, I can assure you that, by the grace of God, the
future looks bright.”
He said, “Since my appointment as the Chief Justice, my focus
has been on reinventing our processes, providing speedy and quality
administration of justice, strengthening our structures from the
Supreme Court to other courts of records and stamping out
corruption from the system.”
Muhammad said the judiciary under him was embracing technology
to fast-track its processes, adding that Supreme Court and Court of
Appeal Justices had forgone their annual vacation this year to
clear the backlog of “time-sensitive cases.”
He admonished lawyers to desist from the practice of filing
needless appeals at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court,
warning that the apex court would be unsparing in punishing
“blatant abusers of the court processes.”
Muhammad added that the judiciary, under his leadership, would
not lose “its firm grip on the mantle of honesty, transparency and
integrity.”
The CJN, who said those three virtues formed the nucleus of his
administration, said the judges do not look at anybody’s face or
feelings in deciding cases.
He said, “By the grace of Almighty God, I will tenaciously hold
onto that even until that very moment of my last breath on
earth.
“Let me assure this assembly, we don’t look at anybody’s face or
feelings before making our decisions.
“If there is any deity to be feared, that deity is the Almighty
God. We will never be subservient to anybody, no matter how highly
placed,” he said.
He, however, admitted that the judiciary was not truly
independent, especially at the state level, since the executive was
still in control of its funding.
He said, “Please, all that are concerned, let us enjoy our
independence. If you say that I am independent, but in a way
whether I like it or not, I have to go and bend down, asking (for
funds) I have lost my independence.”
But the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who
declared the conference open on behalf of President Muhammadu
Buhari, said the Buhari administration had ensured the independence
of the judiciary.
Malami said to demonstrate that the Federal Government was not
dictating to the judiciary, it accepted adverse court judgments
without questions.
Malami said the Buhari government was committed to strengthening
institutions in the country.
He said, “We have had to disrupt the age-long wrong assumptions
and historical narratives of the presumed immunity of sacred cows
in our society, simply to demonstrate that henceforth the law will
be used as a potent instrument to regulate the activities of all
persons and institutions in our country in a fair and transparent
manner.”
Malami reiterated the Federal Government resolve to probe the
circumstances surrounding the failed power project leading to $9bn
arbitration award against Nigeria in favour of British firm,
P&ID.
He said all culpable individuals and corporate bodies would be
punished.
Malami said, “It is a sad testimony with potential for national
economic disaster when legal issues are handled ether in a
compromised, ignorant or incompetent manner.
“Let me inform that without prejudice to our right to challenge
this award, Mr President has already directed the Office of the
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to take
steps to ensure that all issues related to negotiation, signing,
formation and obvious frustration of the purported contract are
duly investigated and all persons and institutions, whether in the
private or public sector, who acted in ways that have now made our
dear nation face potential economic adversity and widespread
opprobrium are made to face the law and prosecution in the law
court.”
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