Senate to debate invasion of Justice Odili’s residence Nov 9

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Senate will on Tuesday, November 9 debate the invasion of the residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court, JSC, Mary Odili by security agents as an urgent matter of national importance at plenary.

 

Security operatives had last Friday invaded the Abuja residence of the apex court justice based on alleged information that “illegal activities” were going on there.

 

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central) dropped the hint on Monday during an oversight visit to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad in his office in Abuja.

 

“We cannot pretend not to be aware of the embarrassing situation on the invasion of the residence of Justice Mary Odili on Friday night by security agents. Without joining issue with anyone, we take the matter seriously, by the time, we are back to a plenary session, we will discuss the matter as urgent of national Importance,” he said,

 

On the budget of the judiciary in the 2022 fiscal year, Senator Bamidele said: “It is trite to state that the 2022 budget estimate for the judiciary is N120 billion only representing an increase in the sum of N10 billion, over the sum which was appropriated in the 2021 Appropriation Act.

 

“Even though this increase is not enough to meet the competing needs and challenges of the judiciary, we must commend the present administration for listening to the voice of reason and clamour from various quarters advocating for increased funding for the judiciary.”

 

However, the Chief Justice of Nigeria disclosed that there is no interference from the legislative or executive arm of government on the activities of the judiciary, adding that the National Assembly has not failed the Judiciary.

 

Justice Muhammad, who was responding to Senator Bamidele’s opening remarks, said: “The legislative arm of government has not failed us, there is nothing that we want that have not been granted by the lawmakers, you are doing the right thing. If you see that something is going wrong with the judiciary, call our attention to it. There is no interference from the legislature and the executive on our activities.”

 

Açcording to him, the judiciary was ready to accept correction if something is going wrong.

 

In her submission, the Acting Chief Registrar of Supreme Court, Hajo Sarki Bello informed the lawmakers that 75 percent budget performance has been recorded in terms of releases and 60 percent in expenditure.

 

She said N368 million was appropriated to cater for the official vehicles of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Justices of the apex court.

 

The Acting Chief Registrar explained that the amount was for the procurement of one additional vehicle each for eight newly appointed justices in the interim, pending the availability of funds to procure the remaining ones.