Justices of the supreme court have written to Ibrahim
Muhammad, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), over the deteriorating state of
affairs in the apex court.
In a letter seen, 14 justices of the apex court
accused the CJN of abandoning his responsibilities as the leader of the court.
Some of the issues raised by the justices include —
accommodation, vehicles, electricity tariff, supply of diesel, internet
services to justices’ residences, training for justices and epileptic
electricity supply to the court.
The justices said following the complaints raised earlier in the year, and “after several persistent requests” to hold a meeting which was finally held on March 31, a “welfare committee” was set up to aggregate the issues.
But the justices added, “Your lordship received and ignored
these demands since 24th March 2022”.
The justices demanded to know what has become of funds set
aside for training of justices since they have been denied the usual two to
three international workshops annually.
“In the past justices were nominated to attend two to three
foreign workshops and trainings per annum with an accompanying person for
reasons of age,” the letter stated.
“Since your lordship’s assumption of office justices only
attended two workshops in Dubai and Zanzibar. They were not accorded the
privilege of travelling with accompanying persons as was the practice.
“Your lordship totally ignored this demand and yet travelled
with your spouse, children and personal staff.
“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!”
On the issue of healthcare, the justices said: “The supreme
court clinic has become a mere consulting clinic.
“Drugs are not available to treat minor ailments. There is a
general lack of concern for justices who require immediate or emergency medical
intervention.”
The justices further stated that the welfare committee
submitted their request for diesel allowance, “because of the epileptic
electricity supply, the astronomical hike in the price of diesel and the fact
that justices require electricity to work at home”.
“The committee also requested for the restoration of our
monthly Internet allowance, because we require uninterrupted Internet service
in order to have access to materials online to write our judgments,” they said.
“With regard to justice’s vehicles, several are due for
replacement, while the new Justices have not received their full complement of
vehicles to date. Moreover, some of the vehicles supplied to the Justices are
either refurbished or substandard.”
They drew the attention of the CJN to an internal memo
stating that “electricity would be supplied to the court between the hours of
8am and 4pm daily, for lack of diesel”.
“Your lordship with all due respect, this is the peak of the
degeneration of the court; it is the height of decadence, and clear evidence of
the absence of probity and moral rectitude,” the justices said.
“Your lordship, this act alone portends imminent danger to
the survival of this court and the Judiciary as an institution, which is
gradually drifting to extinction.
“The judiciary is an arm of government. The supreme court of
Nigeria, just like the Presidential Villa and the national assembly, is the
seat of the judiciary as an arm of government. The implication of the memo is
that this arm of Government is potentially shut down. May God never allow that
day.
“Your Lordship, this is a wake up call. Your Lordship must
take full responsibility as our leader. You must not concession your
responsibility to people who have no responsibility or stake in preserving and
defending the dignity of the Institution
“It is either you quickly and swiftly take responsibility
and address these burning issues or we will be compelled to further steps
immediately. May this day never come.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com