The senate has resolved to probe the corruption allegations leveled against the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mr. Tanko Muhammad who resigned his appointment yesterday for health reasons.
Recall that the CJN resigned on the heels of a protest letter by 14 judges of the court over poor welfare service.
The aggrieved judges led by the second most senior judge of the Supreme Court, Mr. Olukayode Ariwoola (now acting CJN) chronicled the operational challenges that have almost crippled the efficient adjudication of cases at the court.
The protesters also alleged corruption: “We demand to know what has become of our training funds, have they been diverted, or is it a plain denial? Your Lordship may also remember that the National Assembly has increased the budgetary allocation of the Judiciary. We find it strange that in spite of the upward review of our budgetary allocation, the Court cannot cater for our legitimate entitlements. This is unacceptable!”
The resolve to probe Muhammad followed a motion by the chairman, senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele.
The motion was entitled ‘Matter of urgent public importance on the state of affairs in the Supreme Court of Nigeria and demand by justices of the court, pursuant to rules 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (as amended).”
Bamidele said the poor welfare of judicial officers would affect the delivery of the judiciary in respect of their output and will prevent them not to perform optimally.
“Justices are taciturn and reticent in handling issues outside their judicial domain but resorting to such measures in order to protect the Judiciary, requires the Senate to rise up to the occasion to ensure that their demands are addressed,” he said.
“The sacred image of the Judiciary, which is the epicentre of the temple of justice, should be preserved by the Senate through appropriate legislative measures in order to safeguard this highly revered institution and prevent it from being ridiculed,” he added.
He regretted that Muhammad voluntarily resigned his appointment on grounds of ill-health, leaving the most senior Justice to act as the acting CJN.
However, he said the development would not prevent the committee from going ahead with its assignment in the quest to find a probable lasting solution to the matter.
“Though Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has stepped down as CJN, most of the issues raised by the Justices of the Supreme Court and other stakeholders within the judiciary still remain and need to be addressed urgently to prevent an eventual shutdown of the Judiciary,” he said.
In his remarks, the senate president, Mr. Ahmad Lawan said: “I can see most of the emphasis is on funding. When we look into the issues, they go beyond funding. We should look at other areas whether there is need to improve on the structure or having issues that may not be about funding, but funding is of course is a major issue.”
He therefore mandated the committee to probe the allegations leveled against the ex-CJN and the crisis presently rocking the judiciary.
“The chamber mandates the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to go ahead with its assignment in the quest to find a lasting solution to the matter by interacting with relevant stakeholders to address the complaints raised in the petition by the Justices of the Supreme Court.
“Mandates the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to interface with the relevant stakeholders in the three Arms of Government as well as at the Bar and on the Bench to collate aggregate views and positions on the short term, medium term and long term measures needed to decisively address the crisis facing the Judiciary, including the immediate fiscal intervention as well as long term and sustainable budgetary allocations, required for the optimal performance of the Judiciary, in line with global best practices; and urge the Senate to wish the Hon. Chief Justice well, following many years of meritorious service to the nation and to pray for his good health,” Lawan said.
