Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
It appears that the immediate-past Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Tanko Muhammad, is not out of the woods yet as the Senate has insisted on probing him despite his voluntary resignation.
Indications that the Senate is not going to allow the allegations raised against him by 14 of the Supreme Court Justices go uninvestigated emerged Tuesday when a motion on a matter of urgent public importance was moved by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
Recall that the Senate had on June 22, mandated its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the crisis rocking the judiciary.
Meanwhile, after the motion to probe the ex-CJN by Bamidele, the Senate mandated the committee to continue with its assignment and permanently deal with the rot in the judiciary.
Raising the motion, Senator Bamidele noted that poor welfare of judicial officers would adversely affect service delivery and output by the judicial officers.
As he put it: “The sacred image of the judiciary, which is the epicentre of the temple of justice should be preserved by the Senate through appropriate legislative measures in order to safeguard this highly revered institution and prevent it from being ridiculed.
“Though Muhammad has stepped down as CJN, most of the issues raised by the justices of the Supreme Court and other stakeholders within the judiciary remain and need to be addressed urgently to prevent an eventual shut-down of the Judiciary.”
Supporting the motion, Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, said “this motion will show clearly that the Senate is not unaware of the role it is supposed to play.
“Of course, in playing that role, we also respect principles of separation of powers. Our concern is that the judiciary as an arm of government deserves all the support it needs, being the last hope as far as the rule of law is concerned.”
Adding his voice, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege said: “I am very embarrassed as a lawyer and someone from the judicial family. Seeing that petition on social media and eventually in the mainstream media, I was taken aback because it has never happened, it is unprecedented. There is no reason the judiciary should lack anything financially.”
Apart from the Senate there has been preponderance of voices calling for Muhammad’s probe over allegations levelled against him by the Justices of the Supreme Court.
Babatunde Fashanu, SAN, said the protest by 14 justices against Justice Muhammad was like passing a vote of no confidence on him.
He wished that Nigeria would never get a CJN like Muhammad again.
“When all colleagues petition you and are basically complaining of incompetence in handling provision of necessities for their well-being and performance of their jobs, that is akin to a vote of no confidence in a parliamentary system and the Prime Minister, nay, the CJN has to go.
“It is unprecedented in our country and may we not be subjected to such an experience again. The judiciary is the last bus stop of the common man and the apex court must always be headed by the most qualified and competent jurist.
“The damage done to the justice system by his appointment can only be imagined and will surface to the public glare in due time. I can only wish the new Acting CJN the best of luck in correcting the damage done.”
SERAP has also called for the probe of the ex-CJN, arguing that it is not just enough to resign and go uninvestigated.
