SAN FRANCISCO, October 04, (THEWILL) – A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Stanley Alagoa, on Friday blamed corruption in the judiciary on the influence of politicians, businessmen and traditional rulers.
He however called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to reform the process of appointing judges to curb corruption and ensure efficiency in the judiciary, suggesting a more rigorous appointment process to ensure that “only men and women of proven integrity and courage should be picked to sit on the bench.”
Alagoa, who is from Bayelsa State and was elevated to the Supreme Court on September 26, 2012 while he was the Presiding Justice of the Ibadan division of the Court of Appeal, made the call at a valedictory court session held in his honour following his retirement from the Supreme Court on attaining the statutory age of 70.
Lamenting the increasing cases of corruption in the judiciary,he urged judges to always stand their ground and ensure justice, calling for sanction for any judge found wanting.
Stressing the attributes of a true judge, he noted that it was for a judge to “carry himself with quiet dignity that is different from arrogance.
“A judge, who is more at home in social circles may do well to question his suitability for the bench as the two are incompatible,” he said.
On the issue of corruption in the court system, he said politicians, businessmen and traditional rulers constituted the greatest challenge to the judiciary.
He said: “It is this class of persons that bribe, intimidate, harass or influence judges to depart from their sacred oath of office and the path of honour and rectitude.
“A judge, who hobnobs with this group may well be unwittingly allowing his position to be compromised and possibly jeopardised..
“A judge must hold fast to his faith in God and be bold. This done, this class of persons, like bees can only buzz around but must certainly lack the power and ability to sting.”
Also at the occasion, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okey Wali (SAN) and a former NBA president, Chief Thomas Okpoko, (SAN), called for the evolution of a process that would ensure that young persons were appointed as Justices of the apex court to stem the high turnover rate of Justices in the court.
They also called for the abrogation of quota system and regional or geographical considerations in appointing Justices.
Wali, who was represented by former Justice Minister, Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) blamed the high turnover rate of justices at the apex court on the practice where Justices were only promoted from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court and upon quota system and geographical consideration.
“This practice, strangely not based on any known law or regulation, is patently responsible for the position the Supreme Court has now found itself.
“The effect of the promotion and zonal representation dynamics in the court is that it is unwittingly denying the injection of younger blood into the court even though Section 231 of the constitution merely provides for a 15-year post call for a person to be qualified to hold the office of Justice of the Supreme Court and no more,” he said.
On his part, Okpoko, who stressed the need for urgent reforms in the third arm of government, said the process of appointing heads of the judiciary should change to ensure that Justices with not less than five years to retire should be appointed the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Citing the provision of Section 231 of the Constitution, Okpoko said the choice of appointment to the Supreme Court’s bench should be extended to the Bar and not limited to serving judges or justices.
“If the Supreme Court is to have the best justices, quota system or geographical spread should not be a basis for appointment of Justices of the Supreme Court,” he said as he faulted the appointment of old men and women as justices of the apex court.
“This does not appear good for the national judiciary. Let us get our Justices to the Supreme Court early enough to give their best,” Okpoko said.
Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), urged the judiciary to brace up for the challenges ahead.
He said as the nation approached the next general elections year, when political cases would flood the court, the nation expected the court to be fair and firm in dealing with them.
“The fairness and firmness with which such, political disputes are handled by the judiciary will to a large extent, determine the stability and survival of our democracy,” he said.
He assured the judiciary of the support of the executive on the various reforms being undertaken by the current leadership of the judiciary.
The AGF also assured of the executive’s commitment to the principles of rule of law and concept of separation of powers.
The CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, who also spoke at the occasion, along with others, praised Justice Alagoa’s contribution to the growth of the judiciary.
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