Stop embarrassing judicial officers, CJN warns security operatives

*Says silence of Judiciary should never be mistaken for stupidity or weakness

*Pledges that Judiciary will resist clandestine attempts to silence or ridicule it to oblivion

*Charge invaders of Justice Odili’s residence to court, Body of Senior Advocates tells IGP

ANDREW OROLUA, ABUJA.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, on Wednesday, said that Nigeria’s judiciary has had enough of embarrassment of its judicial officers and would no longer take kindly to a repeat of any ugly treatment from security operatives.

He gave the warning just as the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Baba Alkali Usman, to charge the invaders of the residence of Justice Mary Odili to court.

Justice Muhammad warned that the silence of the judiciary should never be mistaken “for stupidity or weakness.”

The CJN spoke at a special court session of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Abuja marking the commencement of 2021/2022 new legal year and the conferment of the rank Senior Advocates of Nigeria on 72 lawyers.

“On a very sad note, I must say, we were jolted with embarrassingly news of the invasion of the official residence of one of our brother Justices, Hon Justice Mary Peter Odili on Friday October 29 by men suspected to be security operatives, acting on a search warrant.

“The said warrant was purportedly obtained from an Abuja Magistrate court under questionable circumstances.

“I must make it known to all and sundry that we have had enough dosage of such embarrassments and harassments of our judicial officers across the country and we can no longer take any of such shenanigans.

“The silence of the judiciary should never be mistaken for stupidity or weakness.

“By the nature of our work, we are conservative but not conquered species and should not be pushed further than this by any individual, institution or agency of the government.

“With time, those taking judiciary as a mere weakling will soon realise that it is from the calmest seas we often experience the fiercest storms.

“The time to oppress, suppress and intimidate judicial officers is gone.

“No one, irrespective of his or her status or position in the country, should test our will because the consequences of such unwarranted provocation will be too dire to bear.

“We shall begin to resist any clandestine attempt to silence or ridicule us to oblivion.

“Nigeria, to the best of my knowledge is not a lawless society. We should begin to do things that will project us favourably and rightly too, to the international community.

“No law permits anyone to invade, subdue or overawe any Nigerian citizen in his or her residence with a flimsy, fraudulently obtained search warrant.

“We are making efforts now to ensure that henceforth, every search or arrest warrant must be issued with the knowledge and approval of the Chief Judge of the respective state or federal high court as the case may be”, the CJN said.

Speaking after swearing in the 72 legal practitioners recently elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Justice Mohammmed admonished them to forge ahead with the right mindset and disposition to attain more impactful results.

He said the Supreme Court and by extension, the Nigerian Judiciary, had fared well in the outgone legal year even though the horizon was roughened by overwhelming challenges.

“As this new legal year unfolds, we will like to assure you that we are determined to work assiduously to evolve a judiciary that will remarkably be the pride of Nigerians, home and abroad.

“I must say with pride and exhilaration that during the outgone year, we experienced so many positive heartwarming in the Nigerian judiciary.

“For the first time in the history of the Supreme Court, we swore in eight justices to fill the positions vacated by our esteemed colleagues who retired.

“We also enlarged the profile of our judicial strength by increasing the number of justices to an all-time high number of 20 and that indeed was first of its kind in our history,’’ he said.

Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, while speaking at the ceremony, said the judiciary had continued to complement other arms of government in spite of the challenges by COVID-19, insecurity and dwindling economy.

He said: “The judiciary has helped in the preservation of the country’s hard-earned democracy.

“I want to state categorically that the LPPC has done a good job by putting forward deserving and qualified lawyers and they must ensure that due process is followed in subsequent selection.’’

Chief Awomolo (SAN), who spoke for the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, at the special court session, said that they are demanding for the immediate prosecution of those arrested and paraded for the invasion of Justice Odili’s residence.

He said the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria is concerned about the welfare, security and safety of judges.

“Security operatives who carried out that illegal operation might have done that for their selfish reasons and that is why they should be charged,” he said.

Awomolo assured Nigerians that the judiciary and indeed the justices will guarantee a fair hearing to all.