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Tag: SAN

  • SAN pays tribute to mum

    SAN pays tribute to mum

    Mrs Alewo Ramatu Okutepa, mother of Mr. Jibrin Samuel Okutepa (SAN) is dead. She was 103.

    In a tribute, Okutepa said: “And the matriarch has gone. She was the first daughter and first child of Uwani Atuluku of the Aju-Ocholi Dynasty of Attah Igala.

    “My mother was born an advocate and had answers to every issue you raised. She was named Alewo. She travelled wide in town so the name Alewo. She was a virtuous woman. She was simple and had no known enemies to us the children.

    “Since my dad passed on  on December 8, 1982, my mother had remained in the compound and kept the compound alive. She always said she was watching over the compound of the husband.

    “She called me oko (husband). A husband I was to her. But indeed she was a mother  to me. When I saw the lifeless body of this my ‘wife’ posted to me, I was amazed that the matriarch of the Aju-Ocholi Dynasty has gone.

    “Three days to her death I had spoken to her. She was as jovial as ever and she cracked her usual jokes with me.

    ”Now I am a complete orphan, but thank God, I am not looking for orphanage home to stay. God has done us well.

    “My mother was an epitome of humility. She was kind. She left at the full and ripe  age of 103 years. There can be no better fulfilment than this. She saw us from nothing to something.

    “Of all her children, she suffered for me most. She was in my labour for three excruciating days before she was delivered of me by a traditional midwife attendant. She did not wait to see my 58th birthday which is on January 1.

    “I was planning to celebrate Christmas with her, but now she is no more. Iya go well. Greet Baba for me. Tell Baba my story.

    “You know how you attended my swearing-in  in Abuja on August 26, 2011. Tell my father that ‘Oko’ is now a lawyer and that his blessing on me when I left for Makurdi on  October  1, 1980 has produced good results.

    “God saw me through to the peak of my career. There are many stories to tell Iya,  but you can’t discuss with me again. I covet your longevity, you put the cap on me and the rest.  Good night Iya.”

     

  • SAN blames colleagues for stalling corruption cases

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Rotimi Jacobs has urged lawyers to see the fight against corruption as collective.

    He said the attitude of defence counsel, especially senior lawyers, is to set the accused free.

    He spoke at a workshop organised by the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day.

    Jacobs said: “The attitude of the defense counsel, particularly the senior ones, is that the accused must escape the consequences of his act by deploying all legal technicalities to set him free.

    “We also close our eyes to the general interest of the public and the nation. This will not give us victory in the fight against corruption.”

    The leading prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) blamed corruption for the country’s economic woes.

    “Although the country is just emerging from an economic recession that was caused by drop in oil prices in the international market, the level of impunity in different sectors of the economy as induced by corruption is alarming.

    “Corruption in Nigeria breeds inefficiency, discourages investment, fuels inflation, diminishes productivity and institutes a regime of poverty and unemployment as is being currently experienced today.

    “It can, therefore, not be disputed that we are virtually reaching, if not already at the danger zone where this cankerworm, if not arrested, will destroy the entity known as and called Nigeria,” Jacobs said.

    He said the fight against corruption must be in line with the rule of law.

    “The application of the rule of law should not ignore the local environment and the societal right. The way we apply rule of law is to exercise the right of individual accused persons and not to totally suppress the societal right,” he said.

    The committee chairman Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) said NBA recognises that corruption is endemic in Nigeria, hence it set up anti-Corruption Committee on  July 17.

    “The Committee is set to contribute its quota to the fight against corruption in our country. Corruption is a crime against development which thrives in the shadows. The impact of corruption is greater than just the diversion of resources.

    “Unfortunately, the worst consequences of corruption are borne by poor and vulnerable groups,” Akintola said.

    NBA President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), represented by the First Vice-President Caleb Dajan, said the International Anti-Corruption Day was a time for political leaders, governments, legal institutions, and humanity in general to work to unite in the fight against corruption.

     

  • Neconde: SAN faults seven-day ultimatum

    Neconde: SAN faults seven-day ultimatum

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Uchechukwu Val Obi, has faulted the seven-day ultimatum given by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to the Federal Government to direct Neconde Energy Limited to recall its sacked employees or risk an industrial action.

    Obi, who is the counsel to Neconde Energy Limited, argued that PENGASAN’s ultimatum was made in bad faith and with a view to overreaching the pending proceedings at the National Industrial Court.

    He recalled that in the Suit Number NICN/LA/268/2017 between Neconde Energy Limited & Anor. Vs. PENGASSAN & Ors,  Justice O. A. Obaseki-Osaghae on June 5 ordered “that none of the parties should take any action that will lead to a break down in law and order pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

    In a letter dated December 8, 2017 and addressed to Comrades Francis Johnson, Lumumba I. Okugbara and Abel Agar – President, General Secretary and Zonal Chairman, Obi, who is the Managing Partner of Alliance Law Firm, reminded the union leaders that disputes involving Neconde and its staff members affiliated to PENGASSAN had received the best consideration of Neconde leading to a binding communiqué signed between Neconde and PENGASSAN in May.

    The senior lawyer also informed the PENGASSAN leadership that Neconde had fully complied with the terms of the communique.

    He reminded the union leaders of their December 7 letter addressed to “All NEC Members” of PENGASAN in which the union gave a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government and relevant agencies, of the association’s intention to embark on a nationwide strike effective December 18, 2017 should they fail to direct Neconde to recall its sacked employees.

    Obi reminded the union that the right of Neconde, as an employer of labour to hire and fire personnel is within its legal rights as aptly pronounced by the “Supreme Court in the case of Chukwumah Vs. Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (1993) 4 NWLR (Pt. 289) where the apex Court held that an employer has the right to terminate its employee’s employment for good reason, bad reason or no reason at all”.

    According to Neconde’s counsel, this prerogative of the management was expressly preserved in the communiqué aforesaid. He said that the company had made it clear that it properly disengaged the affected staff and paid due entitlements.

    “When PENGASSAN and some of its members had continued to issue fresh threats despite its execution of the communiqué, Neconde had instituted a case at the National Industrial Court, namely Suit No. NICN/LA/268/2017 between Neconde Energy Limited & Anor. Vs. PENGASSAN & Ors seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs et al,” Obi said.

    He noted that on June 5, 2017 the National Industrial Court presided over by the Hon. Justice O. A. Obaseki-Osaghae upon hearing an application made orders that “All parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum”; and “that none of the Parties should take any action that will lead to break down in law and order pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. This Order has been served on PENGASSAN and it remains extant, binding, subsisting and enforceable to date”.

    Neconde’s counsel also argued that PENGASAN’s ultimatum to the federal government and its relevant agencies to direct or prevail on Neconde to accede to its request to recall the sacked staff is made in bad faith and with a view to overreaching the pending proceedings.

    The senior lawyer also described the threat by PENGASSAN to embark on a nationwide strike as an action that is capable of leading to a break down in law and order, which was expressly restrained by the binding order of the court.

    “Under a democratic setting, the Courts should be allowed to hear and determine parties’ conflicts and it must be seen as an affront to the Court’s constitutional powers for any litigant to resort to self-help or embark on acts capable of intimidating or undermining the constitutional adjudicatory powers of the Court. Neconde therefore views PENGASSAN’s ultimatum as a contempt of Court and would be taking necessary steps against PENGASSAN and its leadership seemingly behind this action,” Obi explained.

    According to him, the present ultimatum of PENGASSAN threatening a “nationwide strike” should the executive fail to interfere in a pending judicial proceeding exposes the weakness and ineptitude of the current PENGASSAN leadership who have resorted to unorthodox and undemocratic antics to trade unionism.

    “Ordinarily, a trade union such as PENGASSAN should be a firm adherent to the tenets of the rule of law. Neconde remains committed to a lawful mode of dispute resolution and is willing to continue its engagement with PENGASSAN and any other stakeholders within standard, lawful and conventional parameters but would not relinquish its legal and inherent rights as an employer, as presently sought by a self-seeking leadership of PENGASSAN or at all,” he added.

  • Buhari not doing enough in his anti-corruption war – Falana

    Buhari not doing enough in his anti-corruption war – Falana

    Activist lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, on Friday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari is not doing enough in his battle to rid the nation of corruption and recovers stolen wealth from looters.

    Falana urged Buhari to muster enough “political will” to go after Nigerians who have deprived the country of her legitimate earnings through stealing and cheating, and caused them to return the  I’ll gotten funds instead of seeking local or foreign loans to fund projects.

    The Human rights lawyer who made this known at the Obas Complex, Oke – Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, also faulted the Dr. Bukola Saraki – led Senate for approving the $5.5bn loan request put forward to it by Buhari.

    Falana who was the keynote speaker at this year edition of the 78th International Students Day organised by the Ogun State government, said if unremitted funds in some federal government agencies, companies and others hidden offshore haven by looters were retrieved by Buhari – led government, there would be enough funds to execute projects instead of Nigeria going about with cap in hands begging for loans.

    Speaking on the theme: “Restructuring, Pros and Cons: The Place of the Nigerian youth,” the legal luminary argued that what had been recovered from looters by the Federal government in the last two years remained a mere “tip of an iceberg.”

    He said the bulk of the looted funds are still out there with the looters and urged the government to go all out to retrieve them.

    He also lamented the state and standard of education in the South West, insisted that the zone was not doing well in education, saying the evidence could be seen from the recently released West Africa Examination Council results where the zone performed woefully.

    He recalled that in his home state, Ekiti, excised from Ondo,  there were times when most families in the state could boast of a professor each because they embraced Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s philosophy of education, lamenting that Ekiti is being governed today by a man who showed grave “contempt for education.”

    “Look at Where are we in education in South west, from the last WAEC results, no State in South West made it to top 10 and that for me, is a shame. We need to go back to where we are coming from,” he said.

    Falana urged the youths not to join those calling for the breakup of the country, saying those behind it are not only making “backward call,” but also fighting only for selfish interest.

    He noted that for the country should leverage on her huge population potential to move forward and erect knowledge based system.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun who was represented at the event by the Education Commissioner, Mrs Modupe Mujota, urged Nigerian youth to take responsibility to build themselves.

    Amosun urged them to step forward to occupy their place in nation building, warning that if they don’t prepare, plan and execute their plans to be relevant, their voices and names would be missing in history.

    Also, a Federal legislator representing Yewa South and Ipokia Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, said the restructuring Nigeria needs is that of the mindset restructuring.

    Akinlade said Nigerians should steer clear of looking at every issue affecting Nigeria from the religious, tribal or ethnic prisms, adding that countries like Singapore, United Arab Emirate and some Asian countries are able to grow and develop because their citizens live above primordial sentiments.

  • Court set to decide SAN rank tussle

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Bwari, Abuja has fixed tomorrow as date to deliver judgment in a suit filed by Mr. Beluolisa Nwofor, whose Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank was withdrawn by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).

    The LPPC, on June 23, 2017, stripped Nwofor of the prestigious rank over his alleged involvement in act of judicial misconduct.

    The committee, in a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Ahmed Gambo Saleh, said it took the decision to withdraw the rank from Nwofor at the end of its 126th general meeting held in Abuja on June 22.

    The committee, however, did not give details of the alleged misconduct for which Nwofor was punished.

    Nwofor sued the LPPC before the court over the withdrawal of the rank.

    At the resumption of proceedings before Justice O. A. Musa, the court heard pending applications filed by the LPPC as well as written addresses on the issue of jurisdiction, which was raised by the court, and subsequently adjourned the case till tomorrow for judgment.

    The court will also determine an application by the respondent to arrest the verdict of the court.

    Justice Musa, on October 4, heard the substantive application that was filed by Nwofor for enforcement of his right to fair hearing and adjourned the suit to October 9 for judgment.

    However, on October 5, the LPPC filed an application seeking to be allowed more time to defend the case and set aside the previous proceedings conducted on October 4.

    Consequently, Nwofor opposed the LPPC motion and accused the committee of employing delay tactics in order to stall the matter.

    When the suit came up before Justice Musa, counsel to LPPC, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), argued that the application was not for arrest of judgment even though it was filed after the substantive case had been heard and adjourned for judgment.

  • Maina: Buhari violated no law, says SAN

    Maina: Buhari violated no law, says SAN

    There is nothing legally wrong with President Muhammadu Buhari’s order for the disengagement of former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task Team Abdulrasheed Maina, according to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Paul Ananaba.

    There have been disagreements over whether the president has the powers to unilaterally sack Maina following his re-instatement.

    Activist-lawyer Jiti Ogunye said while President Buhari deserved commendation for dousing the anger in the land which emanated from what he called “surreptitious and  scandalous  recall” of Maina, there were doubts as to whether it followed due process.

    According to the lawyer, under the Public Service Rules and the Interpretation Act, it is the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) or the Permanent Secretary or Heads of Extra Ministerial Departments that have the statutory power to mete disciplinary actions, including dismissal or sack, to civil servants.

    But, Ananaba sees nothing wrong with the President’s action. He said the president’s directive that Maina should be disengaged does not mean it should not follow due process.

    He said: “The president has issued an order. It is left for the relevant agencies to take steps to implement their principal’s instructions.”

    Ananaba urged the president to go further by holding those responsible for Maina’s return to account.

    “The allegations against Maina started even in the last administration when the fight against corruption was not the primary focus. So if that is the case, and in the process of it, Maina was declared wanted, if he was to come back, it should not be in secret; there should some form of explanation to Nigerians.

    “Not only that he is back, he is promoted. There should be questions and interrogations,” he said.

    Another SAN, Jibrin Okutepa, said the President must show those sabotaging his administration the way out.

    “I expect that those who were responsible for reinstatement and promotion of Maina, a man who has been declared wanted by law enforcement agent for alleged criminal offence, must be named and dealt with immediately according to the law of the land.”

  • SAN faults states’ funding of courts

    Constitutional lawyer and renowned author, Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN) has faulted the funding of state High Courts, Sharia Courts of
    Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal by state governments.

    According to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, funding of state High Courts, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal by state governments is unconstitutional and exposes these courts to undue manipulation and near-asphyxiation by state governors, thereby compromising the rule of law and due process.

    He said: “By Section 6(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, judicial powers of the Federation are to be exercised by “the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation.” The phrase “to which this section relates” becomes consummated when we look at subsection (5) of that same section – which has listed the mentioned ‘Federal’ courts, including the state High Courts, the Sharia Courts of Appeal and the Customary Courts of Appeal of the various states. This then means that these courts are Federal Courts, established by the Constitution to operate at the state level.

    “To cement this fact, Section 84(1) and (4) of the same Constitution has placed payment of remuneration, salaries and allowances of all judicial officers manning superior courts of record in Nigeria, including the courts hereby discussed, on the doorsteps of the Federal Government. If these courts were mere state courts, the states would have been saddled with the responsibility of paying the salaries and emoluments of the judicial officers manning them.

    Also, section 84(7) of the Constitution provides that “The recurrent expenditure of judicial offices in the Federation (in addition to salaries and allowances of the judicial officers mentioned in subsection (4) of this section) shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.” The phrase “recurrent expenditure” here carries its ordinary, grammatical meaning – ‘that which happens again and again.’ This then means that all year-in, year-out expenditure of these courts are a direct responsibility of the Federal Government! There cannot be any other reasonable interpretation of this subsection, which has decidedly used the words “of judicial offices” (not “officers”). Clearly, therefore, these federal courts operating as state courts (“judicial offices”) are to have their year-in, year-out expenditure drawn directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

    “A consideration of other portions of the Constitution will further show the unpretentious intensions of its framers that these Courts herein discussed are Federal Courts. Paragraph 21(e) of Part I of the third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution has vested powers in the National Judicial Council to “collect, control and disburse all moneys, capital and recurrent, for the judiciary.” The word “judiciary” here contemplates, in an inescapable fashion, the courts “established for the Federation” in section 6(1) and (5) of the Constitution. It will be absurd to posit that only the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court are contemplated by paragraph 21(e) – since section 6(1) and (5) of the Constitution has listed all the superior courts of record, including the ones here discussed as belonging to one Federal family.

    “Complement the above with paragraph 6 of Part II to the third Schedule to the Constitution, which is silent on the disbursement of capital and recurrent expenditure by the various state Judicial Service Commissions. Since, therefore, the courts here discussed are not state courts, state governments have, with respect, no constitutional duty or power to provide for them in their annual budgets. I am again backed by section 81(1) of the Constitution, which mandates the President of Nigeria to lay before the National Assembly in each financial year estimates of the revenues and “expenditure of the Federation” for the next following financial year. The phrase “of the Federation” here agrees with the phrase “courts established for the Federation” in section 6(1) of the Constitution.

    “I decided to bring these salient constitutional truthup for various reasons, first of which is to persuade that this clearly unconstitutional practice of state governments funding these courts should stop forthwith.

    “Secondly, by so funding the courts, the rule of law and constitutional due process is facing a regressive nosedive in the various States – owing to the ‘winner takes all’ attitude of most state governors.

    “Thirdly, the said state governments themselves, operating on very lean budgets, are not even properly funding the said courts, again compromising multidimensionally the rule of law in the states.

    “I, therefore, call on the NJC to collect and collate all capital and recurrent expenditures of these courts from their various heads, make a consolidated budget and present it to the Budget Office for inclusion in the yet to be submitted 2018 Federal budget,” Hon said.

     

     

     

  • Conferment of SAN title holds today

    The conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on 29 selected lawyers will hold today as scheduled.

    The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), earlier this year, announced the names of 30 successful candidates for the rank.

    But, the LPPC, in a statement on Friday, said it has deferred the conferment of the title on the only female on the list, Oluwatoyin Ajoke Bashorun.

    The statement signed by the committee’s Secretary, Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, said the decision to defer the conferment of the rank on Mrs. Bashorun was taken at a meeting of the LPPC held on Friday.

    The 29 lawyers include Festus Keyamo, Olusola Alexander Oke, Akinlolu Osinbajo, Prof. Adebambo Adewepo and Prof. Adedeji Adekunle.

    Also named are Chibuike Nwokeukwu, Johnnie Egwuonwu, Bert Igwilo, Sylvester Enema, Ikenna Egbuna, Wilcox Aberton and others.

  • SAN named EKSU governing council chair

    SAN named EKSU governing council chair

    Ekiti State Government has appointed a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) General Secretary Dele Adesina (SAN) as the Governing Council Chairman of the state University, Ado-Ekiti.

    His appointment, which takes immediate effect, followed the resignation of former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Modupe Alade, Adeyeye was thanked by government for his contributions to the university and wished him well in his future endeavours.

    “Consequently, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has approved the appointment of Mr Adesina (SAN) as the new chairman of the university governing council. Adesina hails from Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti South West Local Government,” the statement said.

    Adesina has served the NBA in various capacities, such as Chairman, Ikeja Branch, and as the General Secretary.

    He was a former member of the Governing Council of the Covenant University, a private institution belonging to the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), where he is a pastor.

    Adesina promised to serve EKSU and Nigeria to the best of his ability.

    “I see this appointment as a call to service for the interest of the people. I am humbled and I can only promise to bring my best to bear on the development of the university,” he said.

    Adesina joins a group of lawyers who have been appointed to contribute to the development of tertiary education in Nigeria.

    The list includes Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) (former Pro Chancellor, University of Lagos), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) 9Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, UNILAG), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) (former Pro Chancellor, University of Ibadan), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) (Chairman Governing Council, Yaba College of Technology), among others.

     

     

     

  • AGF dissociates self from alleged probe of CJN

    AGF dissociates self from alleged probe of CJN

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) has dissociated himself and his office from report that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen was being investigated for corruption related issues.

    Malami, in a statement issued on Friday by his spokesman, Salihu Isah, said he holds the CJN in high esteem and will not be part of an attempt to denigrate his person and the office he (Onnoghen) occupies.
    The AGF faulted insinuations that the information which formed the basis of the media report emanated from his office.

    He said he was not aware of such probe of the CJN and would not be party to such act.
    The CJN, reacted to the report in a statement on Wednesday, denying any wrong doing and said he was ready to face any probe.

    The statement issued ON Friday by the office of the AGF reads: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has been drawn to a report in the media space insinuating that the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON and other former and serving government and judicial officers are under investigation for alleged corruption.

    “The report also listed other high-profile Nigerians who it claimed are purportedly under investigation for corruption to include former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, present Minister of Solid Minerals Development and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a sitting judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Abdu Kafarati, among others.

    “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to express his displeasure over the unfortunate and unbecoming innuendo by certain persons and agencies which sought to accuse his office of leaking what was termed as classified information to the public.

    “This office, therefore, wishes to state categorically, but with absolute repudiation, that it did not at any time leak such information to the media as wrongly alluded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “The pertinent question to ask is, since the EFCC has publicly denied that the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria is not under probe or investigation; is it then possible for the same EFCC to have forwarded any classified information on a non-existent probe or investigation of the Honourable CJN to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation?

    “It also goes to show that the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation could not have leaked a non-existent classified information on an equally non-existent probe or investigation.

    “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice strongly frowns at any unsavoury attempt or conspiracy to drag his office and that of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria into petty squabbles in the midst of burning national issues.

    “We, therefore, use this opportunity to reaffirm our deep respect for the distinguished person and office of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, and we will never be party to any unpatriotic effort to denigrate his exalted office.

    “We wish to state unequivocally that the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation will continue to collaborate with His Lordship in his efforts to reform the judiciary and galvanize the anti-graft war.

    “Indeed the present administration appreciates His Lordship for his unwavering support for its anti-corruption drive.

    “We wish to state further that we are neither aware of nor privy to any purported probe or ongoing investigation of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria by any security or anti-graft agency.

    “The office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation dissociates itself from the baseless allusion or suggestion obviously made in bad faith to the effect that His Lordship is under any form of probe or investigation whatsoever.

    “In view of the above, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to emphatically reiterate that he has profound confidence in the Chief Justice of Nigeria and wishes His Lordship the very best in the discharge or performance of his daunting duties to the nation at large.”