CJN Swears-In FCT Acting CJ, Justice Salisu Garba, Charges Him To Be Forthright In Discharging His Duties

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, on Wednesday,
inaugurated Salisu Garba as the acting Chief Judge of the Federal
Capital Territory(FCT) High Court, Abuja.

Mr Muhammad presided over the swearing-in ceremony that lasted
about 25 minutes at the ceremonial court of the Supreme Court in
Abuja.

Mr Garba, who hails from Malumfashi Local Government Area of
Katsina State, previously served as the Chief Registrar of the FCT
High Court until he was appointed a judge of the court 1998.

He was until Tuesday the second most senior judge of the FCT
High Court ranking after the just-retired Chief Judge of the court,
Mr Ishaq Bello.

His predecessor, Mr Bello, who hails from Kaduna State, was
appointed the Chief Judge of the court in 2015 and exited on
attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65 on Tuesday.

Mr Bello had retired on Tuesday with immediate approval of
President Muhammadu Buhari for his successor.

The presidential approval, which the National Judicial Council
announced only few minutes to midnight on Tuesday, came only hours
after Mr Bello had officially retired from office.

The CJN ,who spoke for about 21 minutes at Mr Garba’s
inauguration on Wednesday, recalled that he was a former Chief
Registrar of the FCT High Court.

He said he knew the new acting Chief Judge of the FCT about 25
years ago when they were both working as employees of the
court.

He vouched for Mr Garba’s uprightness, integrity and diligence,
describing him as a person who “is well-grounded in that
system”.

“I am sure you are really equal to the task,” the CJN told Mr
Garba.

He also charged the new top judge of the FCT to adhere strictly
to the oath of his office.

He said, “You should remember that the oath you have just
subscribed to is a convenant between you and your creator, the
Almighty Allah.

“I urge you to hold tenaciously to it. Endeavour not to be
tempted to violate it.

“As we all know, even the deepest and cloudiest part of our
hearts, God sees through. We cannot afford to pretend about our
intentions.”

The CJN, who acknowledged Mr Bello’s presence, noted that Mr
Garba took over from him “not by a coup but through due
process”.

Mr Garba was called to Bar in 1984 and completed his National
Youth Service the following year.

He was in active law practice between 1985 and 1989, before he
was appointed as a magistrate in the FCT High Court, Abuja in
1989.

He became the Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court in 1997 and
was appointed a judge in the FCT High Court, Abuja in 1998.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, on Wednesday,
inaugurated Salisu Garba as the acting Chief Judge of the Federal
Capital Territory(FCT) High Court, Abuja.

Mr Muhammad presided over the swearing-in ceremony that lasted
about 25 minutes at the ceremonial court of the Supreme Court in
Abuja.

Mr Garba, who hails from Malumfashi Local Government Area of
Katsina State, previously served as the Chief Registrar of the FCT
High Court until he was appointed a judge of the court 1998.

He was until Tuesday the second most senior judge of the FCT
High Court ranking after the just-retired Chief Judge of the court,
Mr Ishaq Bello.

His predecessor, Mr Bello, who hails from Kaduna State, was
appointed the Chief Judge of the court in 2015 and exited on
attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65 on Tuesday.

Mr Bello had retired on Tuesday with immediate approval of
President Muhammadu Buhari for his successor.

The presidential approval, which the National Judicial Council
announced only few minutes to midnight on Tuesday, came only hours
after Mr Bello had officially retired from office.

The CJN ,who spoke for about 21 minutes at Mr Garba’s
inauguration on Wednesday, recalled that he was a former Chief
Registrar of the FCT High Court.

He said he knew the new acting Chief Judge of the FCT about 25
years ago when they were both working as employees of the
court.

He vouched for Mr Garba’s uprightness, integrity and diligence,
describing him as a person who “is well-grounded in that
system”.

“I am sure you are really equal to the task,” the CJN told Mr
Garba.

He also charged the new top judge of the FCT to adhere strictly
to the oath of his office.

He said, “You should remember that the oath you have just
subscribed to is a convenant between you and your creator, the
Almighty Allah.

“I urge you to hold tenaciously to it. Endeavour not to be
tempted to violate it.

“As we all know, even the deepest and cloudiest part of our
hearts, God sees through. We cannot afford to pretend about our
intentions.”

The CJN, who acknowledged Mr Bello’s presence, noted that Mr
Garba took over from him “not by a coup but through due
process”.

Mr Garba was called to Bar in 1984 and completed his National
Youth Service the following year.

He was in active law practice between 1985 and 1989, before he
was appointed as a magistrate in the FCT High Court, Abuja in
1989.

He became the Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court in 1997 and
was appointed a judge in the FCT High Court, Abuja in 1998.