CJN: Judiciary is in deep crisis – A2J
Nigeria’s judiciary is in a deep crisis even as it has been systemically weakened, politicized, corrupted and mismanaged, Joseph Otteh, Director, Access to Justice has said. In a statement made available to Daily Trust yesterday, A2J said that it will take a long time for judiciary to rebuild strength, and the image and perception of […]
Nigeria’s judiciary is in a deep crisis even as it has been systemically weakened, politicized, corrupted and mismanaged, Joseph Otteh, Director, Access to Justice has said.
In a statement made available to Daily Trust yesterday, A2J said that it will take a long time for judiciary to rebuild strength, and the image and perception of an impartial, independent and trustworthy institution.
“While there is need for a careful management of issues related to the appointment of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to avoid a potentially volatile, ethnically-charged impasse occurring in the Judiciary, Access to Justice is concerned that the debate over the appointment of a new CJN has overshadowed the exigencies of the need for a transformational leadership that the Judiciary needs at this time’, A2J said.
He mentioned that President Mohammed Buhari is yet to seek the confirmation of the appointment of Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, currently acting CJN as the substantive CJN under section 231(1) of the Constitution adding that until such an appointment is confirmed by the Senate, Nigeria will lack a substantive CJN.
“Justice Walter Onnoghen was sworn in as Acting CJN on November 10 2016. An acting CJN may not be reappointed to serve in that capacity after the expiration of three months from the time he was appointed except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council under section 231(5).
“What the Judiciary needs now is transformational leadership: it needs a head ardently committed to breaking from the painful legacies of the Judiciary’s own foibles and troubled history, and overhauling the delivery of justice services in Nigeria; a leader who will rebuild the Judiciary, and refashion the way courts deliver justice services, ensuring that courts become, again, effective protectors of the rule of law, dependable bulwarks against arbitrariness, tyranny and oppression and are faithful and true institutions and vehicles of justice and fairness”, A2J said.
He said that the huge challenges ahead will not be resolved simply by insisting that we continue the normal practice of an orderly succession to the office of Chief Justice.
These, according to him, are not normal times for the Nigerian Judiciary. Neither will the turbulence and crisis within it be tackled by presiding “normally” over its affairs.
“Access to Justice is not suggesting by any means that the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria is not equipped for the task ahead or that his commitment is not up to scratch, but we think that the focus of the clamour for a substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria should be, in the circumstances, that he is the best person for the job and not just because he is next in line for the office. We urge that whoever must be Chief Justice of Nigeria must be such a person that will lift the Judiciary from the mud and muck in which it is now stuck, and deliver a new Judiciary to the Nigerian people, and has the capacity and commitment to do so”.