Lawyers, CSOs, others seek unbundling of CJN’s office

…Says ‘It’s too powerful’ Legal practitioners and civil groups in Nigeria have called for the unbundling of the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, on the grounds that the occupant possesses “overbearing and ubiquitous powers” which can impact negatively on the Judiciary. This was part of recommendations contained in a communique issued at the end of a one-day conference in Abuja on ‘Judicial Accountability, organized by TAP Initiative’, with support from Open Society Foundations. According to them, the Office of the CJN, as it is presently constituted, is…

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“See yourselves as next to God” – CJN, Ariwoola urges new Supreme Court justices

Chief Justice of Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has urged the 11 new Justices of the apex court to see themselves as the representatives of the Almighty God on earth, because any judgment they deliver can only be upturned in heaven. CJN Ariwoola, who stated this shortly after swearing-in 11 Justices of the Supreme Court, bringing the number of apex court Justices to 21,  described as a significant milestone for the Nigerian Judiciary. The CJN also urged the new justices to uphold unwavering integrity and moral uprightness in…

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Election Petition: Supreme Court reserves judgement in appeal against Sokoto, Taraba Govs.

The Supreme Court yesterday reserved judgement on an appeal seeking to unseat Governor Ahmad Aliyu, of Sokoto State, and Governor Dr. Kefas Agbu, of Taraba State. The 5-member panel of Justices of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, reserved judgement in the two appeals for a date that would be announced to parties in the matter, after briefs filed were adopted by parties. While Sunday Ameh (SAN), the lead counsel to the appellants, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Sa’idu Umar, prayed to the court to…

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Governorship Disputes: “Supreme Court used judicial ‘koboko’ to flog Appeal Court” – Ozekhome 

 Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has said the Supreme Court “spared no words” in criticising some of the rulings of the Appeal Court on governorship election disputes. He said the apex court used judicial “koboko” (a flexible whip made with cow skin or horsetail) to “flog” the appeal court while giving verdicts on the matters. Recall that delivering judgment on eight governorship election cases on Friday, the Supreme Court overturned the decisions of the Appeal Court in Kano, Plateau and Zamfara States. Speaking yesterday, during an interview on…

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Court fines FG, EFCC N100m for unlawfully detaining Emefiele for 5 months in DSS custody

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Maitama, has declared unlawful the detention of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele by federal government agencies for about five months without arraigning him in court. In a judgment yesterday, the presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, held that no law allows the government and its agencies to detain a citizen beyond the period allowed by the Constitution. The judgment was on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Emefiele against the Federal Republic of…

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‘Judges, NJC have formed a mafia’ – Agbakoba

… Says current S’Court worst in 45 years Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba(SAN), have said the current Supreme Court is the “worst” in his 45 years of legal practice, accusing the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Supreme Court judges have formed a mafia. Agbakoba stated this on Thursday in Abuja, at a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, which was attended by President Bola Tinubu and many political stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly. Speaking at the event, Agbakoba…

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Supreme Court Receives Clarion Call for Justice in Election Disputes

A pro-democracy advocacy group, ‘Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative’, has called upon the judges of the Supreme Court to rectify perceived injustices in the verdicts delivered by Election Petitions Tribunals and the Court of Appeal regarding the 2023 elections in Nigeria. In a passionate address at a press briefing held in Abuja,  its Executive Director, Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar-Unguwa Katsina, highlighted the crucial role of impartial and independent election petition tribunals in ensuring free and fair elections, and expressed concerns about the potential ramifications on democracy, peace, and stability.  The…

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“Impartiality is our hallmark; be fair in your verdicts” – CJN to judges 

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, says impartiality is the hallmark of any judge. Ariwoola stated this yesterday, at a special session to mark a new legal year and swearing-in ceremony of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN). According to the CJN, judges must be impartial in all the judgments they deliver, saying, “Therefore, it is our solemn responsibility to keep the river clean at all times. Needless to say, impartiality is the hallmark of a judge. “I admonish all of us to always be impartial in all our…

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“Defend Judiciary against those seeking to compromise justice” – APGA urges Nigerians

National Chairman of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku, has urged Nigerians to stand by the judiciary against those intent on compromising justice and undermining its integrity. During a press conference in Abuja yesterday, Njoku referenced a case brought to FCT High Court by one Chief Victor Oye, who alleged that he should have been remanded at Suleja prison. However, the court found Oye and the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, culpable. Despite this judgment, instead of adhering to the court’s ruling, the pair have…

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Kano Governorship tussle: ‘Nigeria’s judicial, electoral systems collapsing’ – Kingsley Moghalu

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu has warned that Nigeria’s judicial and electoral systems are collapsing. Moghalu, who spoke in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle yesterday, stated that the development has threatening implications for Nigerians’ aspirations for democracy. The statement follows the ensuing controversy over the judgement of the Appeal Court which nullified the election of Governor Abba Yusuf, of Kano State. Recall that a certified true copy of the Appeal Court judgement on the Kano State Governorship Election, however, affirmed…

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