A retiring Supreme Court Justice, Musa Dattijo Muhammad, has expressed regret that the judiciary has turned into what he called “something else” in Nigeria.
He further regretted that the judiciary he joined years ago is not the same that he is now retiring from.
Justice Muhammad, who bowed out of the apex court bench, after 47 years in active judicial service, at a valedictory session yesterday, October 27, said: “My lords, distinguished invitees, ladies and gentlemen, it is obvious that the judiciary I am exiting from is far from the one I voluntarily joined and desired to serve and be identified with. The institution has become something else.”
He said that the judiciary, as presently structured, gave so much power to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who has the power to make decisions without consulting other justices.
“As presently structured, the CJN is Chairman of the NJC, which oversees both the appointment and discipline of judges, he is equally Chair of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), the National Judicial Institute (NJI), the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) that appoints Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“In my considered opinion, the oversight functions of these bodies should not rest on an individual alone. A person with absolute powers, it is said, corrupts easily and absolutely.”
Justice Muhammad alleged that the refusal to fill the vacant slot of South East on the apex court bench is deliberate, blaming it on “absolute powers vested in the office of the CJN.”
He said that with his retirement, the North Central zone, which he represented, would no longer have a Justice on the Supreme Court bench.
“My lord Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko JSC, who also represented the zone, retired on 23rd of May, 2022. It has been a year and five months now. There has not been any replacement.
“With the passing of my lord, Hon. Justice Chima Centus Nweze, JSC on 29th July 2023, the South East no longer has any presence at the Supreme Court. My lord, Hon. Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta JSV died on 7th March 2021. There has not been any appointment in his stead for the South East.
“As it stands, only four geo-political regions- the South-West, South-South, North-West and North-East are represented in the Supreme Court.
“While the South-South and North-East have two serving justices, the North-West and South-West are fully represented with three each.
“Appropriate steps could have been taken since to fill outstanding vacancies in the apex court. Why have these steps not been timeously taken?
“It is evident that the decision not to fill the vacancies in the court is deliberate. It is all about the absolute powers vested in the office of the CJN and the responsible exercise of same.”
Justice Muhammad lamented the poor funding and welfare of judges, saying that the budgetary allocation for the Judiciary increased from 70 billion in 2015 to 165 billion presently, “Justices and officers welfare and the quality of service the judiciary render have continued to decline.”
He said that it was as a result of allegations of corruption and perversion of justice that made former President Muhammadu Buhari to order the invasion of homes and arrest of some judges in 2016.
“Not done, in 2019 the government accosted, arrested and arraigned the incumbent Chief Justice before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged underhand conduct.
“With his retirement apparently negotiated, he was eventually left off the hook.
“In 2022, a letter signed by all other justices of the Supreme Court, including the current Chief Justice, the aggrieved protested against the shabby treatment meted to them by the head of court and the Chief Registrar.
“In the event, his lordship Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad disengaged ostensibly on grounds of ill-health.”

The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for an immediate cease fire and sustained humanitarian truce between Israeli forces and Hamas in the Gaza conflict.
A statement today, October 28, in Bauchi, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf M. Tuggar, said: “the Federal Government of Nigeria calls on all parties involved to immediately agree to a ceasefire and engage in diplomatic negotiations to resolve the conflict.”
The statement advised both parties to exercise utmost restraint and prioritize the safety and well-being of civilians.

“Indiscriminate attacks that result in civilian casualties must be avoided at all costs.”
The statement said that the situation in Gaza is dire and requires immediate attention as a result of the recent uptick in violence.
“Women, children, and other vulnerable groups are among Innocent civilians that have suffered greatly as a result of the indiscriminate violence and are currently bearing the consequences.
“The parties in the conflict must uphold the fundamental values of human rights and international humanitarian law, which places a premium on ensuring civilians’ safety and well-being even in times of conflict.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is calling on the Israeli Government to grant humanitarian access to the millions of people that have been displaced since the crisis broke. “The lack of water, food, medical supplies and fuel shortages have compounded the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
“The prayer of the Nigerian nation is with those who have lost their lives in the conflict and families that have suffered human and material losses, and also those that are currently recuperating from injuries.”
The minister reiterated the call by the government of Nigeria, for a quick de-escalation of hostilities by both sides and a return to the negotiating table to continue the search for peaceful resolutions, “as well as implementation of the two-state solution as a permanent settlement of the intergenerational cycle of violence.”
Source: Fact Check

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has announced that Boko Haram vestiges have been extricated from all the community in the state.

The governor, who spoke to newsmen after a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today, October 27, said that the security situation in the state has improved by over 85 per cent in the last couple of years.

“To be sincere and candid, security situation in Borno State has improved by more than 85 percent. Economic activities is ongoing perfectly in Borno state.
“I just read some script few days ago saying that insurgency is increasing in Borno State. The story is not right. The Nigerian army is giving us the desired cooperation, the police, the paramilitary as well as airforce and all other components of the Nigerian military are supporting us.
“But most importantly, I want to assure you that as the chief security officer of Borno State, the state is doing well in terms of security. There is serious improvement in our security situation. “And I commend the service chiefs for their efforts and I commend the President of the federal republic of Nigeria.”
Asked if he was reassuring that all is well with all the local government areas that used to be under the control of insurgents, the governor said: “honestly speaking, none of the 27 local government areas of Borno State are under the control of insurgents. “However, we have few local government areas that we want to ensure that people are completely resettled. “Now, people are partially resettled there, especially Abadam local government and then Guzamala local government.
“But by and large, in terms of security situation in Borno state, I think the government is doing very well, the Nigerian military is also doing very well. And then nothing has happened, we keep on improving.”
The governor said that the President has assured the six state governments and the entire people of the north-east states that he would provide the necessary equipment needed to curtail the menace of insurgency not only in the north east but in the entire country.