Nigeria’s new acting Chief Justice, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, has suggested that there is a plot by unidentified elements to destroy the judicial arm of government.
Speaking during his swearing in of 250 judges for the 2019 Election Petition Tribunals on Saturday, Justice Mohammed urged members of the tribunals to “try to protect” the Judiciary from those plotting to destroy it.
He said, “As your lordships take the oath of office as Chairmen and Members of the Election Petition Tribunals, let me remind you that this oath is a solemn appeal to Almighty God.
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“Therefore, it is to God Almighty that you will be ultimately responsible.
“It is from this oath that your duties and responsibilities as Chairmen and Members of the Election Petition Tribunals in your various places of assignment spring forth and has a binding effect on each and everyone of you.
“This is an ethical undertaking to justice as well as to uphold the Rule Of Law in our courts and tribunals.
“As such, I implore you to discharge this onerous duty diligently and with the fear of God Almighty.
“The judiciary is in the trying time, you must stand, I repeat you must stand to protect and uphold the integrity of this arm of government.
“If any other person is trying to destroy it, we should try to protect it.
“If we don’t protect it ourselves, no one can do it for us. Therefore it is our sacred duty to see that we protect the judiciary.
“I, therefore, congratulate you on this appointment and I urge you to see this assignment as a call to greater service to your nation.
“I encourage you to uphold and enhance the honour, integrity and standing of the judiciary and I pray that the Almighty Allah wiII bestow upon you strength, good health and wisdom and capabilities in the performance of your duties,” said the acting CJN.
Yes, I believe you are correct on plot to destroy the judicial arm of government, but most unfortunately, you are the first tool to have been used in pursuit of the evil plot. For you to accept acting capacity means there’s rot in the common conscience of some men in judicial society. All these are manifestations of the obnonxiousity plaguing our system. Weep for the future of our kids, Nigerians.
Nigerians are funny, on one hand they say institutions are not working and on the other hand they want the president to be aware or interfere in everything.
the issue of the CJN is straightforward moreso we heard he admitted he forgot to declare. He should hv just excuse himself and the court make sure the issue is determined on time so he can go back, nothing stops him from suing CCB if it eventually revealed they lied against him. unless the CJN has immunity.
the question that comes to mind is why will d CJN fight the CCB if they r wrong?
in my opinion,the CJN should help the judiciary maintain it’s integrity cos all that happened so far is self inflicted.