By Editor

*Urges NBA To Discipline Members Who Ridicule The Judiciary *Calls For Increment of Salary Of The Judiciary

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has tasked lawyers to defend the judiciary at all times.

The CJN, who was ably represented by Hon. Justice Mary Odili, in his opening address at the Nigerian Bar Association Association, NBA, Annual General Conference, AGC, which is ongoing at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, also called on the Association to sanction members who ridicule the judiciary and abuse process of court.

He said, “Another challenge which implicitly impacts the administration of justice is the assault that litigants, especially politicians, launch on the institution of the Judiciary when their ends are not met.

Unfortunately, some members of the Bar also join them in ridiculing the institution of our Courts in private discussions and on national dailies. The institution of our Courts is sacred and the respect that people have for it is the one that Ministers in the temple of justice have made the people realize must be accorded to it. When the

Judges who do not have a right of reply, are subjected to disparaging and humiliating comments in the media, it silently kills their morale and dedication to the cause of Justice. I, therefore, urge the Bar to rise in defense of the Bench at all times. This call is not my idea. It is my understanding of what the Late Chief Richard Akinjide SAN said in his tribute at the valedictory session for Hon. Justice Niki Tobi, JSC (of blessed memory) on November 26, 2016, when he said:

‘The judiciary is the mother of our profession. Therefore, duty demands that we rise in sympathy with her when she is assaulted. In speaking about ber we must be respectful. The duty of respect that we owe to the judiciary is no different from the duty to honour father and mother. It is an unqualified duty and we are not allowed to sit in judgment over father and mother in order to justify our failure of duty towards them. We may draw attention to the weaknesses of the judiciary but we are not allowed to humiliate and disgrace ber. Because she is our mother, we must revere her. And the time to do so is now when her reputation is challenged; now when her honour is in danger. It is not a time to proclaim ber weaknesses. It is a time to sing of ber strength and of our love.’

“Taking the lead demands some discipline and dedication from members of the Bar to efficient administration in all ramifications of our Courts. It demands tough discipline on those who abuse the processes of the Court to frustrate the course of justice. It is my earnest expectation that the Nigerian Bar Association will take on the duty to discipline its erring members who do not only ridicule the judiciary but also abuse its processes.”

Tanko CJN also seized the opportunity to register dismay over the welfare of Judges, most especially salary. He called for a review of the remuneration of judges and their condition of service. He clarified that his intervention was for the suspension of the strike of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, which was not an indication of contentment. He, therefore, called on lawyers working in various arms of government to look into the issue

“I must however not shy away from stating that not all the challenges that the Judiciary face can be internally addressed. Some demand the support of the Bar for their actualization. One of them is the poor condition of service of national judicial officers. The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem had rightly highlighted this challenge at the maiden edition of the Court’s new legal year last month. Whilst we appreciate the continued support of other arms of government for the judiciary,I believe that more can be done to address the issue of remuneration of judges and the condition of their service.

The JUSUN strike which crippled the administration of justice in our Courts was championed by the labour group to advocate for independent and better funding for the judiciary as constitutionally provided. I led the judiciary to intervene in the suspension of the industrial action to forestall a total collapse of our justice system. That good-intentioned intervention must however not be taken as a signal of contentment with the status quo. Members of the Bar that serve in various offices in the arms of government must see the urgency of leading a crusade to address this issue as a matter of urgency.” Tanko said

He also explained that as the head of the judiciary, he has tasked all Justices and Judges to take on the challenge pushed at them by the times. In various fora, he said he has encouraged his brother Judges and Justices to see the administration of justice as one of the fundamental solutions to some of the nation’s crises. The peace of the nation rests on the balance of the scale of justice and our Courts must ensure that justice is served at all times, irrespective of the pressures from within.

He further explained that he has warned judges against the temptation that come with some cases.

“At the swearing-in of Justices of the Court of Appeal in July this year, I warned the Justices against the temptations that come with some cases and warned against putting their integrity to doubt. When there were conflicting injunctions emanating from different Courts of the nation which may potentially paint the Judiciary as a house divided against itself, I had cause to invite the Chief Judges of the affected States to bring order and sanity to the judicious use of their discretion. I believe that our Justices and Judges will continue to live up to the expectations of their integrity and competence in the discharge of their duties, as the Almighty gives them strength.” Tanko said.