According to the Guardian newspaper, the in-coming Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed has blamed governors for the condition of the country’s judiciary, declaring that their refusal to uphold the financial autonomy of the sector at all levels makes wholistic reform in the sector nearly impossible.
It will be recalled that the outgoing CJN , Justice Aloma on Monday said the governors sabotaged the judiciary. .
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Justice Mahmud Mohammed and urged him to keep pace with reforms in the judiciary and uphold the Rule of Law as the nation grapples with the challenges of democratic development.
Justice Mohammed who will be sworn in today as the highest judicial officers in the country as his predecessor Chief Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar bows out same day upon attaining the mandatory retirement age, held that most of the states were particularly in breach of the constitutional provisions granting financial independence to the judiciary.
Speaking during the launching of a book – ‘A Centenary of Judicial Administration of Nigeria’, written by the out-going CJN, Justice Mukhtar, the new CJN decried the inadequate funding of the nation’s judiciary at all levels.
Justice Mohammed said the judiciary, especially at the state levels, was being denied access to fund despite clear constitutional provisions granting financial independence to it.
He said, “The independence of the judiciary without adequate funds is like denying an able bodied athlete a full pair of running shoes while passing the same shoes on to a paraplegic.
“We do not have ready access to funds despite the provision of section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Most states in the federation are in breach of this constitutional provision. More understanding is needed from all concerned in order to get the type of judiciary we desire.”
He called for vigilance among stakeholders to avert an encroachment of judicial independence in the nation.
We must remain vigilant against the slightest encroachment on judicial independence.
He said it would be difficult to reposition the nation’s judiciary in the absence of financial independence.
A statement by Atiku Media Office in Abuja yesterday, the former Vice President said that “ the country has credible and upright CJN” but went on to urge Justice Mahmud to use the opportunity he has got on merit to head the nation’s judiciary to keep pace with reforms in the judiciary and get it in tune with modern trends in democracies around the world.
Atiku while reiterating that Nigeria cannot be left behind noted that no democracy survives without a strong, virile and independent judiciary.
“Destiny has placed on your shoulders the Herculean task of being at the helm of interpreting the constitution of Nigeria at a time we all crave for a strong and independent judiciary capable of upholding the tenets of democracy and telling truth to power,” Atiku said.
Credits: The Guardian