*FG increases judiciary budget proposal by N10bn
Tunde Opalana & Haruna Salami, Abuja
The Senate has lend credence to the wide condemnation of invasion of the Abuja residence of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili by security operatives and vowed to debate the ugly incidence at plenary as matter of urgent national importance.
Security operatives had on Friday night invaded her house based on information that alleged “illegal activities” were going on there.
This is just as the Chief Justice of Federation, Justice Mahmud Tanko kept mum on the issue 72 hours after the invasion.
Talking tough on Monday during an oversight visit to the Chief Justice in his office at the Supreme Court, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said the nationally embarrassing situation must not go improved by the legislature.
Bamidele said, ” we cannot pretend not to be unaware of the embarrassing situation on invasion of residence of Justice Mary Odili on Friday night by security agencies. Without joining issue with anyone , we take the matter seriously, by the time, we are back to plenary session, we will discuss the matter as of urgent national importance.”
Speaking on the budget of the judiciary in 2022, Senator Bamidele said ,” It is trite to state that 2022 budget budget estimate for the judiciary is one N120 billion only representing an increase in the sum of N10 billion , over the sum which was appropriated in the 2021 Appropriation Act.
“Even though this increase is not enough to meet the competing needs and challenges of the judiciary, we must commend the present administration for listening to the voice of reason and clamour from various quarters advocating for increase funding for the judiciary.”
Responding to the Chairman’s opening remark, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko disclosed that there is no interference from legislative or executives arm of government on activities of the judicial arm adding that the National Assembly has not failed the judiciary.
According to him, “the legislative arm of government has not failed us , there is nothing that we want that have not been granted by the lawmakers, you are doing right thing , if you see that something is going wrong with the judiciary, call our attention to it. There is no interference from legislature and executive on our activities”.
He submitted that the judiciary is ready to accept correction if something is going wrong.
In her submission, the acting Chief Registrar of Supreme Court, Hajo Sarki Bello informed the lawmakers that 75 percent budget performance has been recorded in term of releases and 60 percent in expenditure .
She said that N368 million was appropriated to cater for the official vehicles of the Hon Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Justices of the Court.
The acting Registrar added that last year eight Hon. Justices were appointed in to the bench of the court and there was approval for the procurement of one additional vehicle each for eight newly appointed Justices in the interim pending the availability of the funds to procure the remaining vehicles.
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