What New CJN Said About Former CJN Tanko, Will Shock You
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, stated on Wednesday that a leaked internal document sent by Supreme Court justices to Justice Mohammed Tanko, the former CJN, was embarrassing to the high court.
This was remarked by the new CJN in Abuja in response to inquiries from senators during his National Assembly confirmation hearing.
He claimed that the internal note from the Supreme Court justices was not a petition for or against Justice Mohammed Tanko, but rather a letter intended to address the issues they were having with their welfare and the hostile work environment.
The Supreme Court’s justices did not file a petition supporting or opposing Justice Mohammed Tanko’s appointment as CJN a few months ago; instead, they highlighted concerns in a document about the justices’ overall working conditions and general wellbeing.
“When we as Justices read the content of our memo in the newspaper, we were embarrassed.
Since the memo’s goal was not to pick a conflict or humiliate someone, it was never meant to be made public.
“We didn’t allow anyone to see the handwritten document when it was signed by all the judges, making its leak to the media to be like a miracle to us,” he claimed.
He lamented that the majority of the flaws outlined in the document had not yet been resolved, attributing this to the Supreme Court’s insufficient funding in particular as well as the judiciary’s general lack of resources.
“Some of the Justices appointed in 2020 have not received official housing, therefore they are travelling from satellite cities inside the FCT to work.
“The Nigerian judiciary must have adequate funding; we should not grovel for our rights.
“More Justices must be appointed because only 13 of the 21 needed for the Supreme Court remain, and some cases should be permitted to finish at the Court of Appeal by a constitutional modification to that effect in order to expedite case consideration.
He continued, “The National Assembly should kindly assist in this regard by enacting necessary constitution modifications.
The third most influential person in the country made the observation that just as justice delayed is perceived as justice denied, justice rushed is also denied while outlining the reasons why justice is delayed in being administered.
He believed that even while justice may move slowly, as long as it does so steadily, those who deserve it will always receive it.
“More Justices must be appointed because just 13 of the 21 needed for the Supreme Court have been appointed, and this must be done quickly,”
He described the procedure for choosing judges, stating that a lawyer must have practised law for at least ten years before being appointed as a judge of a state or federal high court, and at least fifteen years before being appointed as a judge of an appeals court.
The CJN further stated that, in contrast to the concerns voiced by some parliamentarians, there was no crisis among the Supreme Court justices.
Ovie Omo-Agege, the deputy president of the senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the chairman of the senate’s judiciary committee, and a few others expressed concern over the purported petition in their statements before being asked questions.
The screening of the now-substantive CJN took place for an hour before Ahmad Lawan, the President of the Senate, submitted the approval to a voice vote.
His ratification comes over three months after President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment.
After his appointment in June 2022, Buhari requested the Senate’s confirmation of his appointment as the substantive CJN in a letter dated July 26.
According to section 231(1) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) constitution, the president wrote in his letter, “I forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.”
