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Tag: CJN

  • CJN inaugurates new CCT member

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen said yesterday that efforts were ongoing to bring the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) under National Judicial Council (NJC) as an arm of the Judiciary.

    The CCT is currently an agency under the Presidency.

    CCT’s spokesman, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, in a statement, quoted Justice Onnoghen as saying that the move is intended  to enable the CCT function effectively and in accordance with the doctrine of separation of powers.

    The CJN spoke in Abuja at the Supreme Court complex, while administering oath of office on a new member of the CCT, Mrs. Julie Abieyuwa Amabor.

    He warned judges to avoid acts capable of rubbishing their name and that of the Judiciary.

    Read also: Walter Carrington to Buhari: Diversify Nigeria’s economy

    Justice Onnoghen urged the new CCT member to be above board in her decision and always abide by the judicial oath she took.

    He also admonished her to always be guided by the decisions of the appellate courts and learn to operate as a team player.

    The CJN urged the new CCT member to always be guided by her conscience, no matter whose ox is gored.

    Onnoghen said the delay in the appointment of a new member for the CCT was not that the NJC did not appreciate the important role the tribunal plays.

    He said the delay resulted from the resolve of the NJC to ensure that the right thing was done.

  • CJN urges judicial officers to be firm

    CHIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen has reiterated the need for judicial officers to be firm in their pronouncements.

    He spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the 2018 annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).

    The chief justice assured that the judiciary would ensure that the country moves forward.

    “According to him, judiciary officers must continue to be in charge of their courts. This is the only way respect will be given to the judicial system in Nigeria.”

    The chief judge said arbitration was one of the set rules of court, adding that out-of-court settlement was the clause that provided for arbitration.

    Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami said there no need to prolong issues in the courts, and stressed the need to settle matters through arbitration.

    According to him, arbitrators are not out to suppress the power of the courts, but Nigeria procedural requirements are meant to be obeyed.

    He added that more needed to be done to boost arbitration in the country, adding that Nigeria must be in the forefront of promoting the practice.

    Malami express optimism that the challenges facing arbitration would be resolved by the conference participants.

    President, CIArb UK Mr. James Bridgeman said Africa must look at the challenges facing arbitration.

    According to him, relationship and transparency must be maintained, if the institute must move forward in Nigeria.

    “Africa must look at their challenges, learn lessons from it and develop solution. The future of Africa is in the hand of individual,” he said.

    Chairman, CIArb, Nigeria Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour said Nigeria

    was committed to advocating use of alternative dispute resolution.

    According to her, “we continue to play a pivotal role in advocating for the reform of the legal framework for arbitration in Nigeria with a view to having an up-to-date legal framework.

    “We will work with our legislature and other stakeholders on the reform of Nigerian Arbitration and Conciliation Act, enacted in 1988,” she said.

  • Buhari, CJN, governors, others mourn ex-CJN Kutigi

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commiserated with the judiciary family following the death of one-time Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Idris Legbo Kutigi.

    Flags in the judicial arm of government are flying at half mast as directed by CJN Walter Onnoghen. A seven-day mourning period has also been declared.

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello and Inspector Genral of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, extoled the virtues of the departed ex-CJN

    Justice Kutigi (CJN Jan. 30, 2007 to Dec. 30 2009) died on Saturday in London at the age of 78. He would have been 79 later in the year having been born on December 31, 1939 in his hometown Kutigi, Niger State.

    His eldest son, Sani, who confirmed his death, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that “We are making arrangements to transport our father back for burial.”

    The late Kutigi left behind 18 children and over 40 grandchildren.

    He served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State until 1976, when he was appointed High Court judge.

    Kutigi served in that position for more than a decade and joined the Supreme Court in 1992.

    After 10 years at the Supreme Court, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him  to succeed Justice Salihu Alfa Belgore, who retired on January 17, 2007.

    President Buhari in a condolence message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina commiserated with members of the judiciary and legal profession.

    The president also condoled with the government and people of Niger State on the death of the eminent jurist.

    The President said the late CJN will be long remembered and honoured for his visionary roles and contributions in the advances our country has made towards building a strong, independent and impartial judiciary, which is sine qua non for democracy to thrive.

    He also believed that Kutigi’s “bold and articulate judicial decisions, advocacies on access to justice for all and protection of judicial independence are extant signposts for the advancement of the noble profession in the country and beyond.”

    In a message by Onnoghen’s media aide Awassam Bassey, the CJN said he received with sadness the death of one ofhis predecessors: “The CJN, on behalf of the Nigerian Judiciary and, indeed, all Nigerians, commiserates with the family of the deceased former CJN and urges them to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived to the fullness of age and served his country diligently, rising to become the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the highest office in the third arm of government.

    “As a mark of deserved honour to the deceased jurist, the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria has directed that the Nigerian national flag in the premises of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the CJN’s official residence in the Three Arms Zone of Abuja, all Judiciary institutions including the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), as well as all Courts of Records in the country, should be flown at half-mast for a duration of seven days.

    “Similarly, the CJN has instructed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to open condolence registers at both foyers of the court to enable Honourable Justices of the court and other well-wishers to pay their last respects.”

    Governor Sani-Bello said the “late Justice Kutigi is uniquely endowed Nigerian, a man of integrity who has indeed paid his dues in the service of his country in particular and humanity in general.”

    IGP Idris in a condolence message said: “His death is a huge loss not only to Kutigi people, Bida Emirate, but also to Niger state and the nation as a whole.”

    The “late Kutigi was an elder statesman, an exemplary leader and a bridge builder who has contributed immensely to the peace and development of the country”.

    “Even after his tenure as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, he continued with all his good attributes of ensuring justice, peace, unity and progress of not only the state but the country at large.”

    According to the police chief, “the late Kutigi showed love to all and sundry, irrespective of their tribe, religious inclination and in spite of these, he was a Godly man who had the interest of his people at heart above any other thing.

    “The was a bridge builder, an amiable personality who is at home with his people, whose vacuum would be difficult to fill,” he added.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar yesterday mourned ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria Idris Kutigi.

    Also comiserating with the family of the late jurist are the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the PDP.

    Saraki described Kutigi as a “honourable jurist”” in a statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, his spokesman.

    The ACF expressed gried while Atiku, in a statement by his media adviser Paul Ibe, said Kutigi showed a great capacity for leadership and broadminded disposition.”

  • Ayade lauds judiciary as CJN opens Appeal Court complex in Calabar

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade  has commended the judiciary for upholding the rule of law, justice and equity.

    Ayade spoke in Calabar yesterday when he received the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and other justices of the Appeal courts, led by its President, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, on a visit prior to the inauguration of the Court of Appeal Complex in Calabar,

    The governor said he was impressed with recent landmark judgments of both the Appeal Courts and the Supreme Court.

    He said: “I think gradually you have helped change the politics of people thinking that they can win elections in court. So, I am shocked at the level at which people are now willing to settle their political differences because they know the court is no longer available for sale.”

    While urging them to be more proactive in line with the world order, Ayade added: “The primary essence of the judiciary is to guarantee law and order and that is why the history of law itself is derived from the norms and culture of the people, judicial precedence or pronouncement of the court. Therefore the court in itself, other than the legislature has the powers within the ambits of legal provisions to make laws.

    “Unfortunately, because we run a codified system of government, it does not allow you the luxury of your personal interpretation of issues as they come before you. But, the real truth is; as law migrates from common law to equity and going into a final level of jurisprudence, time has come when we must sit back and ask ourselves if the essence of the judiciary is being met.

    “The world is migrating fast from the codification system to moral justice; to what is fair. I, therefore plead, that as part of the sophistication and growth of our legal system, we must advance it beyond the codification and provisions that if we do this, this is your penalty. We must not continue to draw our rulings based on the prescription of the law. It is only a guidance, but the greater guidance is Kantianism. It is morality, it is good conscience, it is fairness, it is ensuring that warring parties that come before you leave as friends, as brothers and as sisters. That is the essence of the judiciary, which is the essence of the law that is the philosophy that guides the existence of this third arm of government.”

    Justice Onnoghen, who lauded the state for donating the piece of land for the complex, said: “It was nostalgic to witness the actualisation of the dream for a befitting court of appeal complex in this part of the country.”

    He maintained that with the inauguration of the edifice, judges will no longer suffer the hardship they had experienced since the former court was gutted by fire.

    While calling on the government to revitalise the old complex to serve as a national monument, being the first court in Nigeria, Onnoghen said: “I will seize this opportunity to seek the assistance of government and people of this state, to do whatever you can, to in fact,  if possible get the federal government involved and any other agency of government that can, including those in charge of the preservation of national monuments to be interested in restoring that structure for posterity.

    “It will be a great landmark in the history of this country and Cross River State in particular, because you cannot run away from the fact that that happens to be the very first seat of the judiciary in this country. It was the Supreme Court of southern protectorate of Nigeria before the capital was moved to Lagos.”

    At the venue of the new court of appeal commissioning on Diamond Road, behind the New Secretariat, Justice Bulkachuwa said the construction of the edifice started 12 years ago after the former office that was built in 1896 was gutted by fire in December 2011.

    While thanking the state government for the critical role it played in ensuring the successful completion of the court of appeal Calabar division, the President explained that the choice for the establishment of the court was borne out of the fact that Calabar once hosted the Supreme Court of the Southern Protectorate in 1896 before the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorate in 1914.

     

     

     

  • Babalola commiserates with CJN, others over Katsina-Alu’s death

    Afe  Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD)  Founder & Chancellor Aare Afe Babalola (SAN)  has commiserated with  Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) W.S.N. Onnoghen and the judiciary over the death of former CJN Justice Alloysius Katsina-Alu, which he described as “irreparable loss”.

    The renowned lawyer, in a statement yesterday, said he was shocked beyond description when he received the sad news of the departure of the late Alloysius Katsina-Alu.

    He described the late CJN as “a Minister in the Temple of Justice and a man who occupied the Bench with unquestionable integrity, character, industry and dignity”.

    The statement reads: “I have seen the departed Learned Justice at close quarters. I have seen him at work and I have also seen him at play. I interacted with him in the court and outside the court and found him to be a genial and humble person who is sold to hard work.

    “But as traumatising as the news is, I am consoled by the fact that the departed Jurist lived a most fulfilled life and imparted his community, particularly the Judiciary, his primary constituency, thereby leaving his giant steps on the sand of judicial times.

    “A professional to the core, the departed legal colossus was a fervent believer in the Rule of Law as against the Rule of Man. His acclaimed brilliance and the very professional ways he conducted himself both at the Bar, the Bench and even outside the Bar and Bench will remain indelible in our psyche. The Bar and the Bench will certainly miss him.

    “I thank the Almighty God for granting him the enviable grace of being able to make his marks before being called home to rest in His bosom.

    “It is my fervent prayer that all he worked for whist still with us on planet earth will stand him in good stead before The Maker of all things.

    “While wishing him a most-deserved rest, I pray that the Almighty Allah will grant you, the entire Katsina-Alu Dynasty and the Judiciary where he served meritoriously the grace and the equanimity to bear the irreparable loss.

    “On behalf of my family and the entire Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, I commiserate with the His Lordship, Hon. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, JSC, CON, CFR, FCIArb.,FNIALS, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, and the Judiciary for this irreparable loss.”

     

     

  • CJN on police brutality

    EMBARRASSED by the plenitude of cases before the courts concerning police misuse of power, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has asked the courts to take proactive steps to curb the malady. According to him, “I have observed, and received several complaints of the horrific incidents of Police brutality, inordinate arrest, detention and extortion of innocent Nigerians by police officers across the country. These incidents have assumed frightening proportions in recent times. The Magistrate Courts are currently overwhelmed with cases of such brutality, inordinate arrests and detention of Citizens.” He continues: “As we approach election year, it is imperative that we curb these excesses through the instrumentality of the statutory powers of the courts. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) has given Magistrates oversight functions over Police Stations in their Jurisdictions.”

    The judiciary is wading in because neither the police authorities, who are hugely distracted and stuck in Neanderthal forms of policing under a unitary system, nor the federal government, which is reluctant to give up its powers of policing and yet is unable to fund or restructure the Police Force, has proved competent in doing anything proactive about the law enforcement agency. They are satisfied reacting to cases of abuse, hauling a few erring policemen before their ineffective internal disciplinary mechanisms, and enunciating cosmetic changes. The rot is so overwhelming that it is hard not to see the tragedy the law enforcement agency has become.

    It is not certain that the judicial intervention advocated by the CJN will go very far. It is worth trying, of course, and the principle of the intervention must be saluted. But the rot is much deeper than what the judiciary can fix, and the structure of policing so archaic that no amount of tinkering can do it any good. It is perhaps only the federal government, particularly the presidency, that still lauds unitary policing. They fear that state police would be abused by autocratic governors. They do not think state police can be structured in such a way that safeguards can be built into it. Paralysed by fear, too mendicant to fund the law enforcement agency, and too lazy to even supervise it well and build a disciplined and innovative crime fighting force, the federal government has allowed the Force to decay into a brutish and extortionate agency.

    The police, like the herdsmen killings, should be a major campaign issue for the next general elections. Political parties which hope to win popular votes must discuss this grave issue and convince the electorate that they have great and implementable plans to give the country a new Police Force. Nothing else will suffice. It is time political parties earned, rather than buy, their votes.

  • Shun corruption, CJN warns SANs

    •Onnoghen orders inspection of detention facilities

    Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen yesterday warned Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs)  and other lawyers not to engage in corrupt practices.

    Onnoghen decried misconduct of some senior lawyers, which had brought disrepute to the profession.

    He spoke in Lagos yesterday at the maiden annual lecture of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN).

    Onnoghen said: “I urge you all to shun corruption and avoid all forms of misconduct, because if one is not qualified to wear silk as a judicial officer, he remains unqualified to wear same as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.”

    Guests at the event included retired Supreme Court Justice Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Chief Bayo Ojo, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Abubakar Mahmoud, first female SAN Chief ‘Folake Solanke among others.

    The CJN berated SANs, who disrespect judges, advised them to change their ways.

    He said: “We feel so big. In fact, the way some of you address the Bench, you look down on the judges. Yes, it’s the truth. Let’s talk to each other man to man. You look down on the judges.

    Onnoghen also frowned at the rising cases of unlawful detention, extortion and related acts by security agencies, particularly the police.

    To address the development, the CJN yesterday directed states’ Chief Judges, including that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to detail Chief Magistrates to henceforth, conduct inspection of police stations or other places of detention, other than prisons.

    The directive, the CJN said, is in line with the provision of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), particularly in Section 34 (1) and (2).

    Onnoghen also directed chief judges to set up appropriate mechanisms to ensure compliance with the stated provisions of the ACJA on police brutality and inordinate arrests among others.

     

     

     

  • CJN urges new Justices to be courageous

    Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen has urged new Court of Appeal Justices to be courageous in the dispensation of justice.

    He spoke after administering the oath of office and allegiance on them. The new Justices are  P. A. Mahmud; F. O. Ojo; I. A. Andenyangsto; G. O. Kolawole; B. B. Aliyu; Ebiowei Tobi; J. G. Abundaga; A. S. Umar; A. M. Talba; A. M. Bayero; A. M. Lamido and Mohammed Idris.

    Chief Justice Onnoghen said: “The Court of Appeal has now been enhanced with more hands to carry out its statutory responsibility of dispensation of justice to all, irrespective of their status, because the workload there is heavy.”

    He reminded the Justices, both old and new, that they are men of honour; adding that to whom much is given, much is expected.

    He said their elevation to the Appeal Court Bench was an invitation to more hardwork.

    He said: “Adhere to the code of conduct, the constitution and judicial precedent, then you can go home and sleep with your two eyes closed.

    “It is only when you apply shortcuts that you invite problems. Be courageous because everything in the country is on your head in terms of the dispensation of justice. When you adhere to the code and the constitution, the institution will be there to support you

    “You have to abide by the Constitution and the Code of Conduct, which actually is an extension of the oath of office that you have just taken.

    “When you adhere to your oath of office, the code of conduct, the constitution and the application of the law to the task before you, and abide by judicial precedent, you will be home and dry. You will continue to sleep and snore.”

    Chief Justice Onnoghen said the Bench needs to exercise even more caution as politicians get desperate ahead of next year’s election.

    “It is now time for politics. Things will be done to raise the temperature of this country within and outside of the political space.

    “You have to be very, very careful not to be used as instruments for settlement of personal squabbles and intra party disputes. Your duty is to look at the law and use the law to settle the matter.

    “One party must win and one party must loose; the two of them cannot win at the same time. You should be guided by judicial precedent, particularly in election and election related matters.

    “The responsibility of a judge is to resolve disputes in accordance with the dictates of the law and to always apply the law in resolving cases brought before his court, without bothering who wins and who loses.”

    He noted that the Financial Autonomy Bill to  states Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary, recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, did not just provide financial autonomy to the Judiciary as being erroneously implied, saying that the provision has always been in the Constitution.

    He said: “Section 121 of the Constitution has always been there. What has always been the problem is the absence of courage, political will in the executive arm of government to implement and enforce this provision. That is all. Some state governments have done the right things, others are ready to do. Those, who are yet to, we encourage them to enforce and implement this provision.

    “This is because the independence of the Judiciary, particularly its financial independence, is the bedrock of democracy itself. We have gone too far to go back.

    “We are under a democratic dispensation; a constitutional democracy for that matter. That is why I keep on saying that the rule of law is the solution to all of our problems.

    “If we operate under the rule of law and are bound by the rule of law, which is the bedrock of democracy, then impunity, which is the bane of our democracy, will disappear.

    “Please let the judiciary remains the last hope of Nigerians, whether a superman or a common man.”

  • Be courageous in your duties, CJN tells judges

    •Onnoghen swears in Kafarati as Federal High Court’s Chief Judge

    CHIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen has urged judges to be bold and courageous in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    Onnoghen noted that though it often seems the heaven would crumble when the laws are applied, the heaven will not fall if judges act in accordance with the law.

    The CJN said: “Do not run away from challenges, remain courageous and bold, do the right thing at the right time and tell everyone what the law is.

    “The judiciary will protect you when you adhere to the rule of law, the oath of your office and the Constitution of the country.”

    He spoke in Abuja yesterday at the swearing-in of Justice Adamu Abdu Kafarati as the substantive Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

    Onnoghen assured that the judiciary would always do its best as an unbiased arbiter between the two other arms of government and other litigants.

    He described Kafarati’s swearing-in as historic and noted said although it was long overdue, “we thank God it was finally done”.

    The CJN was optimistic that the Federal High Court will now experience stability, peace, and will move forward under the watch of Justice Kafarati as the Chief Judge.

    He added: “Time is always there to be our witness for whatever we are doing. For this reason, you must remain focused and be guided by the oath and the saying that the judiciary is the last hope of man.”

    Before yesterday, Justice Kafarati had been in office in acting capacity having been  sworn in on September 16, 2017as the acting Chief Judge following the retirement of the court’s Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

    Justice Kafarati was born in 1954 in Kwami, Gombe State. He attended Kafarati Primary School from January 1962 to December 1968.

    He later attended Government Secondary School, Gombe from 1969 to 1973, as well as the Northeast College of Arts & Science (NECAS), Maiduguri from October 1973 to June 1975.

    He studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from October 1975 to June 1978. He graduated from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1979.

    He rose to the position of Principal State Counsel in 1987. He served as Assistant Administrator-General before he was appointed a judge of the Federal High Court on October 31, 1991.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Stop leaking judgments, CJN tells court workers

    •Onnoghen: manual filing, service of processes to go

    CHIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen has warned court staff to desist from leaking rulings and judgments yet to be delivered to parties.

    Justice Onnoghen urged court support staff to always be guided by the code of conduct for court employees and abstain from unethical conduct in order to retain public confidence in the system.

    He said: “In our quest to birth the Judiciary we all desire, I must not fail to emphasise that in the daily discharge of your duties, the code of conduct for court employees must be your guide and standard.

    “It is trite to note that it promotes the tenet of transparency, integrity and hard work among staff.

    “In this light, you must shun all vices that easily beset you. Vices such as lateness to work, leaking of rulings and judgments as well as absenteeism from work without permission from superior authority must be avoided,” he said.

    Justice Onnoghen spoke in Abuja yesterday at the opening session of the national workshop for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) staff of courts, put together by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

    The workshop has as its theme: “Information technology as a catalyst for effective justice administration.”

    Represented by Justice John Okoro (of the Supreme Court), the CJN noted that the nation’s judiciary could no longer afford to operate without ICT deployment.

    He said the gradual integration of ICT into court’s operations has help in improving the pace of justice dispensation in the country.

    The CJN added: “The part to effective and efficient justice delivery in Nigeria lies in our ability to continuously improve our justice sector with the use of ICT tools.

    “Thus, judicial administration around the world have imbibed the use of on-line legislation and case law, electronic filing system and the electronic service of court processes,” he said.

    Justice Onnoghen noted that, in view of the importance of ICT to court’s operations today, the nation’s judiciary has developed and deployed the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS).

    He said the system allows the filing and service of court processes electronically as well as electronic archiving of probate records.

    The CJN assured that the judiciary, under his watch, was committed to achieving lasting structural and ethical reforms that would reposition it to adequately meet the aspirations of court’s users for reliable, effective and efficient administration of justice, using ICT.

    Justice Onnoghen, who recalled his recent directive that the Supreme Court will only serve processes by electronic means (e-main) in all matters, said from July 16, “all filings must bear counsel’s e-mail address.

    “I implore all judges and lawyers to join this trend in this quest for excellence by subscribing to and acquiring the legal e-mail, as the manual form of communication within the Nigerian courts is gradually phasing out,” the CJN said.

     

    NJI Administrator, Justice Roseline Bozimo said the workshop was intended to facilitate capacity building and further skill acquisition for participants in the area of ICT.

    Justice Bozimo noted that the workshop, to end on Friday, will feature presentations in area like Cloud computing, Internet of things (IOT) and the court’s Innovative tools or Dangerous fad, Office 365, Exchange online essential and Cyber security; Emerging threats and Mitigation strategies.