Ibrahim Muhammad, chief justice
of Nigeria (CJN), says the Supreme Court of Nigeria is the busiest and most
hardworking apex court in the world.
Speaking during the 2018/2019
legal year, Muhammad said the supreme court entertained 1,874 cases of which
788 were civil, 262 criminal, and 65 political.
“It is on record that we work
from Monday to Friday every week: on Wednesdays we do Chamber sitting to
consider non-contentious matters while we deliver judgments and rulings on
Fridays,” he said.
He urged the public to embrace
alternative dispute resolution to free the courts of unnecessary overstretching
of their human and material resources.
“At the Supreme Court of Nigeria,
we are totally independent in the way we conduct our affairs, especially in our
judgments, and we don’t pander to any body’s whims and caprices,” he said.
“The only deity to be feared is
the Almighty God. We will never be subservient to anybody, no matter his
position in the society.”
Abubakar Malami, minister of
justice, said the new legal year should be used to reflect on the achievements
and limitations of the last one.
“It should be a time to draw up
modalities on how best to foster the desired growth in our Judicial System, and
affords the Bench and the Bar the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment
towards upholding the canons of the rule of law by adherence and devoted
practice of law and justice,” he said.
“This practice will go a long way
to reinforce the commitment of the Judiciary in sustaining our democracy and in
fostering the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”
Malami said his address should
serve as a clarion call on the court of appeal and to the apex court to be
courageous in delivering landmark decisions in favour of justice, equity and
fairness.
“The court should not be seen to
bow to the pressures of different political actors, being the last hope of
every litigant: irrespective of any irregularity that might have occurred in
the course of dispensing justice by different election tribunals,” he said.
“It is important that this court
as a final arbiter remains just and resolute in resolving all issues presented
before it”.
He said in a deep reflection of
the last legal year, it is worthy of note that administration of justice
received boosts in the areas of anti-corruption policy drive.
“The drive successfully
introduced zero tolerance to corrupt practices, and entrenched integrity and
ethical conduct in the task of governance,” he said.
“The federal government whistleblowing policy has
yielded several billions of Naira recovered from tax evaders and public
officials.
“It has also led to the
signing/ratification of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) that ensures
transparency, accountability and the Promulgation of Executive Order 8 which is
the Voluntary Offshore Regularization Scheme (VOARS).
Paul Usoro, president of the
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said some members of the inner bar sometimes
forget that the rank of SAN was best worn with humility.
“Humility in general terms exalts
a person; it stands you out and elevates you, it is the humility in you that
will oil your words and speeches in a way that makes them soothing and
respectful to everyone,” he said.
“It is the humility in you that
would persuade you to share your deserved front-row seats with members of the
outer bar who are not entitled to the front row seats as of right when you are
in court: but who are unfortunately consigned to stand in a crowded and
sometimes, stuffy courtroom because all seats are occupied.”
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