Onnoghen canvasses adequate funding to save judiciary
• Olanipekun urges review of NJC, FJSC composition
FORMER Chief Justice of Nigeria ( CJN), Walter Onnoghen has warned that unless the Supreme Court is adequately funded, it might soon, at best, end up as a glorified high court.
He lamented that justices of the apex court had been suffering in silence since 2008 when their salaries and emoluments were last reviewed by the Federal Government.
Onnoghen, who spoke yesterday, in Abuja, at the public presentation of Nigeria’s first book on Construction Law, regretted that some justices of the apex court still live in rented apartments in unsuitable areas within the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT).
Besides parlous residences, the ex- CJN clarified that chambers of the judges were unbefitting of their status. He, therefore, appealed that the court be properly funded and conducive environment provided to enable the justices perform optimally.
The Cross River State native recalled that while in office, he headed a team, comprising Attorney General of the Federation ( AGF) and Solicitor General of the Federation, which prepared a new welfare scheme on the order of government.
He decried that since his exit, the Welfare Scheme Report, which would have enhanced the condition of service of the jurists, had been jettisoned.
Onnoghen, consequently, pleaded that funding of the judiciary should be immediately looked into with a view to improving the arm of government due to its critical role in nation building.
He commended the author, Mrs. Ewuwuni OnnoghenTheophilus, urging that youths should be encouraged to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.
Also speaking, erstwhile
AGF, Chief Bayo Ojo ( SAN), while lauding the writer’s resourcefulness, expressed optimism that the book would serve as a veritable tool to addressing the crisis bedevilling the construction industry.
In his remarks, the publisher, Chief James Onoja ( SAN), submitted that laws on construction industry as highlighted in the book would serve as guide to players against the backdrop of incessant cases of building collapse.
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N a related development, Chairman, Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun ( SAN), yesterday, called for composition of the National Judicial Council ( NJC) and Federal Judicial Service Commission ( FJSC) to be reviewed.
He sought swift intervention of stakeholders in the nation’s judiciary on the matter.
The senior lawyer made the appeal while delivering a paper titled, “The allegation of corruption in the legal profession: Who is to blame,” delivered at the 2022 Alao Aka- Bashorun Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA), Ikeja Branch in Lagos.
Olanipekun observed: “With what the country has been experiencing in recent years, NJC and FJSC composition should be completely rejigged, readjusted, retooled, recast and overhauled to bring in independent people to perform the functions now vested in the two bodies regarding recruitment, appointment, discipline and welfare of judges and judicial officers. This is what operates in other climes.”
He spoke against the backdrop of the May 3 valedictory speech of the recently retired Justice Ejembi Eko of the Supreme Court, who suggested that budgetary allocations of the judiciary should be subjected to scrutiny of anti- graft agencies.