Most governors flouting judiciary’s autonomy - CJN

The incoming Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has expressed concern over the problem of inadequate funding plaguing the nation’s judiciary at all levels.

He said most of the states of the federation were particularly in breach of the constitutional provisions granting financial independence to the judiciary.

Justice Mohammed was on Tuesday cleared by the Senate to take over from the outgoing CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, who retires on Thursday.

A statement by the Head, Information Unit of the National Judicial Institute, Madu Emezie, on Wednesday, quoted Justice Mohammed as speaking during the launching of a book written by Justice Mukhtar on Tuesday.

The 55-page book, ‘A centenary of Judicial Administration of Nigeria’, in part, contains judicial discourse and captures the administration and history of Nigeria judiciary within the time frame of the administration of Justice Mukhtar as the CJN.

Justice Mohammed said the judiciary, especially at the state levels, was being denied of access to fund despite clear constitutional provisions granting financial independence to it.

He said, “The independence of the Judiciary without adequate funds is like denying an able bodied athlete a full pair of running shoes while passing the same shoes on to a paraplegic.

“We do not have ready access to funds despite the provision of section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Most states in the federation are in breach of this constitutional provision. More understanding is needed from all concerned in order to get the type of judiciary wee desire.”

He called for vigilance among stakeholders to avert an encroachment of judicial independence in the nation.

We must remain vigilant against the slightest encroachment on judicial independence.

He said it would be difficult to reposition the nation’s judiciary in the absence of financial independence.

He said, “How then do you reposition the lower courts for improved justice delivery without the needed funds. The quest will be difficult in the absence of financial independence for the Judiciary, especially at the states.

“Most of the lower courts are states courts. The welfare of the judges of these courts must be significantly improved.

“Their working conditions must be looked into holistically. The state judiciaries must be adequately funded to be able to make these much needed improvements possible.”

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Most governors flouting judiciary’s autonomy - CJN