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• Buhari swears in Ariwoola as Ag. CJN confers GCON on Muhammad
• Warns judiciary in opposition to shedding the arrogance of Nigerians
• I cannot fail Nigerians, Ariwoola assures
• Entry to Justice hails CJN’s resignation
• NBA hyperlinks CJN’s resignation to rumbling in Supreme Court docket
• Resignation not sufficient, EFCC ought to arrest him –HURIWA
• First job earlier than Ariwoola is to convey skilled non-public practitioners to court docket, says Chief Alliyu (SAN)
For the primary time within the nation’s historical past, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), yesterday, voluntarily resigned from workplace, citing well being grounds.
The resignation of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad paved manner for the following most senior jurist within the apex Court docket, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola to be sworn in because the performing CJN.
Mr Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, his Particular Assistant on Media, who confirmed the resignation, stated his principal, may now not proceed resulting from health-related points.
Despite this declare, indicators have been exhibiting that the nation’s apex court docket was heading towards the brink, and one thing wanted to shift to make that occur.
Justice Muhammad, who took over from Justice Walter Onnoghen underneath controversial circumstances in early 2019 was dealing with allegations of fund mismanagement by his brother Justices.
And a leaked memo, written to him by 14 justices of the court docket, led by Ariwoola himself, complained of poor welfare and lack of transparency within the administration of the court docket’s sources, and that was unprecedented and extremely damaging.
Following the memo, stakeholders, together with the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) waded in and urged Justice Muhammad to be accountable and clear within the administration of the judiciary’s funds.
Because the stress was mounting and the allegations of corruption gathered momentum, a human rights lawyer, Chief Malcom Omirhobo wrote a freedom of knowledge letter to the retired Justice, requesting to be furnished inside seven days, all paperwork regarding the earnings and expenditures of the judiciary from 2019 until date or he sues, as they’re public paperwork.
Anticipated to face the criticisms and defend his administration of the sources of the court docket according to the problems raised by his colleagues, Muhammad abruptly introduced his exit yesterday on “well being grounds”.
Consequent to his exit, Justice Ariwoola, 64, having been born August 22, 1958, in Oyo State, has taken his place in an performing capability, pending when his title can be forwarded to the Senate for affirmation as substantive CJN.
President Muhammadu Buhari administered the oath of workplace on Ariwoola on the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The performing CJN was accompanied to the ceremony by a few of his colleagues on the Supreme Court docket to the state Home, after first present process a compulsory COVID-19 check on the Banquet corridor.
The President, who praised the ex-CJN for his contributions, additionally conferred on him the honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
The President urged the Judiciary to not fail Nigerians in order to not erode their confidence.
Ariwoola was promoted to the apex court docket on November 22, 2011, from the court docket of attraction.
The brand new CJN shortly after his swearing-in assured that he wouldn’t fail Nigerians in his new project and would work to justify the arrogance reposed in him.
“What Nigerians anticipate from me is to conform, protect, abide and shield the Structure of Nigeria. And so be it. That’s what I’ll do, particularly with the cooperation of my brother Justices of the Supreme Court docket. We will not fail Nigerians,” he pledged.
On how he intends to deal with the controversy within the Supreme Court docket, he stated: “There isn’t any controversy within the Supreme Court docket. We’re one with the Chief Justice. That’s why you heard the President stated His Lordship is disengaging on the grounds of ill-health.”
On the welfare points raised within the letter addressed to the previous CJN, he stated: “It was an inside memo of the court docket. It was not a petition. It was not a letter. It was addressed by the brother Justices of the Chief Justice and offered to him, His Lordship immediately. There have been points to be resolved amongst justices.”
Requested if these points could be resolved underneath his management, he stated: “Yeah, we’ve began resolving it.”
He’s the third jurist to occupy the highest Judiciary job within the nation within the lifetime of Buhari’s administration.
Justice Onnoghen additionally grew to become the CJN underneath this administration earlier than he was pressured to resign from workplace.
REACTING to Muhammad’s exit, the president of NBA, Olumide Akpata hinted that the rumbling within the Supreme Court docket over poor management may very well be a potential reason behind the sudden resignation.
In an announcement launched yesterday, the NBA president harassed that there’s now greater than ever, the necessity for pressing reforms within the Judiciary and to rebuild the “nearly dissipated confidence that Nigerians have within the Judiciary.”
Akpata stated: “It’s, nevertheless, inconceivable to contemplate His Lordship’s retirement in isolation of the latest unprecedented developments on the Supreme Court docket, the place 14 Justices of the Court docket censured the outgone CJN over His Lordship’s dealing with of their welfare and associated points
“Past this, there may be near-universal settlement that public confidence within the Judiciary and certainly the authorized career is at an all-time low.”
The assertion urged the brand new CJN to right away embark on reforms to avoid wasting the judiciary.
“These ought to kind the rapid first duties for Mr. Justice Ariwoola, because the Appearing Chief Justice of Nigeria,” Akpata stated.
Whereas thanking the outgone CJN for his service to the nation, NBA additionally wished him a fast restoration and peaceable retirement.
The NBA additionally thanked him for guaranteeing a peaceable and cordial relationship between the Bar and the Bench throughout his reign.
The NBA pledged its readiness to work along with the performing CJN and the Judiciary in cleaning the “Augean Steady and addressing the ills which have continued to plague the judiciary.”
ALSO, judiciary watchdog, Entry to Justice (A2J) has hailed the ex-CJN’s resignation.
The group stated the motion would create the possibility to reboot the judiciary and reset its course on a path of renewal and re-energisation
“Information of the resignation attracts the curtain over the illustrious profession of Hon. Justice Muhammad, rose from humble beginnings to turn into Nigeria’s, Chief Justice.
“Though the circumstances of his emergence as CJN stay controversial, Entry to Justice commends him for the choice to step down, following reported well being issues.
“A choice to surrender an workplace with a lot affect, status and energy can not come calmly, and a much less forthright particular person might have chosen a distinct plan of action. By this motion, Hon. Justice Muhammad has proven utmost duty of workplace and private integrity, “ the group’s convener, Joseph Otteh instructed The Guardian.
In line with him, Nigeria’s Judiciary has, for too lengthy been hung over by darkish clouds, and has carried out poorly throughout plenty of efficiency indices.
Public confidence, he famous, is at low thresholds, and the Judiciary’s transparency and accountability have come underneath growing questioning.
Otteh stated the welfare of Judges is dwindling, and the federal government more and more undermines the independence and autonomy of the judicial division.
“The subsequent incumbent of the workplace of CJN, should declare a State of Emergency within the Judiciary, and take each step obligatory to revive the well being, effectivity, authority and accountability of the judicial arm of presidency,” he charged.
MEANWHILE, the Human Rights Writers Affiliation of Nigeria, (HURIWA) has stated the resignation was not sufficient to clear him of corruption allegations levelled in opposition to him by the 14 justices of the Supreme Court docket.
HURIWA, in an announcement by its Nationwide Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, requested for the rapid arrest, investigation and if culpable, then prosecution of the retired CJN by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) and the Impartial Corrupt Practices Fee (ICPC).
Although Muhammad denied allegations of corruption, HURIWA had earlier requested the Nationwide Judicial Council (NJC) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to probe him over the complaints by the Supreme Court docket justices.
HURIWA, nevertheless, applauded the swift motion of the President to have sworn in Ariwoola because the performing CJN.
Equally, former secretary, NBA, Asaba department, Mr. A F Brideba has known as for the rapid probe and trial of the previous CJN for alleged involvement in corruption actions throughout his tenure.
Brideba, who criticised the honour on Muhammad, instructed The Guardian in Asaba, yesterday, that the probe has turn into crucial, following allegations of corruption in opposition to him, including that such probe ought to prolong to all of the judges he appointed, whereas in workplace.
“If there may be anywhere we want transparency, it’s the Judiciary, so the person ought to be probed,” he declared.
In line with him, the probe must also be prolonged to all Supreme Court docket justices in addition to all NBA branches.
However the Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday joined in applauding the retired jurist.
Additionally, an Abuja-based lawyer and human activist, Mr. Daniel D. Makolo, additionally known as for the general public investigation of the ex-CJN to find out the extent of rot within the apex court docket and the judiciary basically.
He felt that for Supreme Court docket justices to have cried out overtly in opposition to the ex-CJN, the rot was greater than folks imagined.
“The longevity of abnormality doesn’t make it regular. That we’ve folks in authorities whose atrocities cry to excessive heavens after which, they shake it off like rooster crushed by rain, after which proceed shamelessly doesn’t make them have any iota of integrity.
“We see them on the streets and shake our heads. So, his resigning makes no which means to me till he’s investigated as a result of he would have executed horrible issues to make him rapidly resign the best way he did.
“Justice Walter Onnoghen’s case was mere property declaration kind. Right here, we’re speaking of alleged excessive degree of rots, which made the Supreme Court docket justices unanimously write a letter by themselves and appended their signatures. It was greater than activism; it was greater than unionism.”
Makolo additionally urged President Muhammadu Buhari to rapidly ahead the title of the performing CJN to the Nationwide meeting for affirmation.
An announcement from his media workplace quoted Atiku as saying: “The choice of Justice Tanko Muhammad to vacate workplace because the Chief Justice of Nigeria is commendable. I want him nicely at the same time as I commend him for his motion and repair to the nation.
“I want the newly sworn-in Appearing CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariowoola success as he steps in to fill the hole and guarantee him of my dedication to advancing the frontiers of judicial independence and the promotion of separation of powers because the bedrock of deepening democracy and improvement.”
For Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), the swearing-in of Ariwoola is the second time in half a decade a Justice from the non-public Bar is turning into a CJN, the final being Justice Onnoghen.
His phrases: “For a few years from the time of My Lord Justice Mariam Mukhtar, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, popularly known as “Ariwoooo” by the Gov of Ondo State, Arakunrin Akeredolu, has been the powerhouse of the Supreme Court docket by way of following the precept of stare decisis to letter and sound ideas of legislation for the great of the society.
“He led the Supreme Court docket, and in reality wrote the main judgment in dismantling the hitherto finality of the judgment of the Nationwide Industrial Court docket surreptitiously put within the Structure by the erstwhile highly effective president of that court docket.
“My Lord Justice Ariwoola is predicted to convey to an finish overpopulating the Supreme Court docket with judges who by no means had appellate follow however fairly rose from Justice of the Peace courts, thereby resulting in public service judgments,” he urged.
A constitutional lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, recommended the previous CJN for the well timed resignation.
In line with Ajulo, the resignation of Tanko was a sacrifice of some kind for the promotion of justice administration in Nigeria. He additionally urged Nigerians to wish for him for the step he has taken.
Talking in defence of the ex-CJN, Abuja-based lawyer, Godwin Ogboji stated there was no particular allegation in opposition to him.
He stated: “There was an unprecedented letter by all 14 Justices of the Supreme Court docket typically complaining about their welfare and situations of labor, so to me that can not be stated to be a grievance/allegation in opposition to him personally.
“Be that as it could, the resignation of the CJN is alleged to be on well being grounds and it’s no secret that the CJN had been reported sick of late and so, I commend him for taking the very uncommon step in Nigeria to resign to are inclined to his ill-health as typically, public officers in Nigeria not often resign.”
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