News: Governors Are Sabotaging Judiciary - CJN

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar on Monday asked the Executive, particularly state governors to respect the constitutional provision that guarantees fiscal autonomy to the Judiciary. She blamed state governors for judges’ poor conditions of service and the deplorable state of courts in the country. She also accused the governors of refusing to obey the constitution, which they swore to uphold. Speaking in Abuja while declaring open the 2014 Conference of All Nigeria Judges of the Lower Courts organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), With the theme: “Repositioning the lower courts for improved justice delivery” she urged the governors to give effect to the January 13 judgment of the Federal High Court, which upheld the constitutional provision, since they (the governors) have sworn to protect and defend the Constitution. Justice Mukhtar said that she was aware that judges of the lower courts in many states were working under horrible and sordid conditions. According to her, some magistrates sit in classroom blocks and village town halls. She said, "Some customary and area courts sit in rented apartments. I am also aware that in some states, courts have been closed down due to political squabbles among politicians. I have heard of stories of magistrates being abducted and in many cases murdered by unknown persons due to lack of security. All these factors are so debilitating on the performance of judicial functions.” "Nobody would like to work under such deplorable and unsecured environment. Some of these problems are man made. These are occasioned by the refusal of some governors to respect the constitution they have sworn to protect and defend. How can they protect and defend what they do not respect?" She therefore called on governors to implement the constitutional provisions in line with the judgment of the Federal High Court in this respect. “If this is done, some of these problems would become issues of the past,” she said, appealing to the governor not to capitalise on the existence of these problems as a reason to indulge in dishonest dealings. Justice Mukhtar, who will be retiring as the CJN in about two days from now, however appealed to judges and magistrates in the country not to use the existence of these problems as a reason to perpetrate fraud or indulge in dishonest dealings and unwholesome conduct. She said: “Since you have accepted to do this work knowing of these challenges involved, you must do it honestly, dexterously, diligently and with utmost integrity and transparency. Like Caesar’s wife, you must be above board. You must be incorruptible,” she charged them. Justice Mukhtar reminded them that, as judges of the lower courts, they were the judicial first port of call and preside over courts located nearest to the people both in urban and rural areas. Therefore, they must conduct themselves properly, by abiding by the Code of Conduct for judicial officers of Nigeria.