FG ‘ll not tolerate subversion of democratic governance, Fagbemi warns

The Federal Government will not tolerate subversion of the democratically elected government under whatever guise.

 

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, gave the warning at a valedictory court session in honour of the outgoing  Chief Justice of Nigeria,  Justice kayode Ariwoola.

 

Ariwoola retired on Thursday, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

 

The minister noted that the present administration has a clear mandate of the people, and can only be changed at the end of it’s tenure as prescribed by the constitution.

 

He said that any other mode or attempt to change a democratically elected government except by the constitution is nothing but a clear case of treason and subversion of democratic governance.

 

“The laws of the land have made copious provisions on how to deal with treasonable acts, therefore, the full wrath of the law will catch up with such treasonable felony.

 

“The government will promote and uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens, but no breach of same rights by any person or organization under any guise except as stipulated by the constitution would be accepted’’.

 

He reassured that the federal government is irrevocably committed to massively changing the course of narratives within the country’s justice sector.

 

“With the massive turn around being put in place by the present administration, the justice sector will be given a place of pride it deserves.

 

“The fg will eradicate all forms of obstacles militating against the modernisation, effectiveness and efficiency of the justice sector.

 

“Remember the recent 300 percent salary increment for judicial officers, these efforts of the government will enhance and promote the judiciary as the last hope of the common man’’.

 

Fagbemi thanked the Supreme Court for rescuing Local Governments in Nigeria from the claws of governors.

 

He called on Attorneys General of States to advise their various governors to obey the judgment of the apex court on the financial autonomy for local government areas in Nigeria.

 

Justice Ariwoola in his speech called for measures to be put in place to reduce the backlog of cases at the supreme court.

 

Ariwoola noted that there are too many cases before the apex court which ought to have terminated at the appellate court.

 

He said that the right to fair hearing can only be guaranteed when lawyers and litigants do not have to wait for so long to have their cases adjudicated upon.

 

He also stressed the need for the bench to have more judicial officers to adjudicate on all matters timeously.

 

“Access to justice has contributed largely to the delay in the hearing of cases as litigants and lawyers are forced to wait for several years to have their cases decided’’.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ariwoola was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011.

 

He was a justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 after having been elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State. (NAN)

 

.As Ariwoola retires as CJN, signs off on new Supreme Court rules

However, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Thursday, retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria having clocked 70.

While delivering his valedictory speech at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, Ariwoola disclosed that to suit the times and address current challenges, he signed off on the new Supreme Court Rules 2024 earlier this month.

 

He explained that upon assuming office as the CJN two years ago, he was concerned about the rules regulating procedures in the apex court, which had been in place for 39 years, predating the advent of the internet and electronic transactions.

 

He noted that although practice directions have been issued periodically over the years to meet the demands of justice, the substantive rules were still from 1985.

 

He said, “At the time the Supreme Court Rules 1985 were made, things that are now ubiquitous, like information technology, electronic transactions, and global telecommunication, were either not in existence or in their formative stages. How, then, could such outdated rules be adequate for today’s challenges?

 

“It was for this reason that I empaneled a Rules Committee to undertake the arduous task of reviewing the 39-year-old rules and the numerous extant practice directions comprehensively.

 

“I am glad to report that earlier this month, pursuant to the provisions of Section 236 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, I signed off on the New Supreme Court Rules 2024.”

 

Ariwoola expressed his belief that the rules of procedure of any court are crucial for its operation and must be dynamic and contemporary to meet the evolving demands of both the bar and the bench.

 

He thanked his fellow justices: the incoming CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Justice Inyang Okoro; and Justice Moronkeji Ogunwumiju for their dedication and commitment to the new rules.

 

He also acknowledged Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) for their contribution.

 

Justice Ariwoola, speaking on the Supreme Court’s workload, noted that a total of 1,124 cases were filed in the 2023/2024 legal year, which commenced in September 2023 and ended in July 2024.

 

Of these, 435 were civil cases, 269 were civil motions, 219 were criminal cases, and 102 were criminal motions.

 

Additionally, although the year was not an election year, 89 political appeals were filed at the apex court, along with 10 originating summons.

 

He added, “During the same period, we delivered a total of 248 judgments and rulings, with 92 judgments in civil and originating summons cases, 81 judgments in criminal appeals, and 74 judgments in political appeals.”

 

 

Justice Ariwoola noted that the realisation of the need to reduce the undue burden on the Supreme Court led to the collaboration between the National Judicial Institute, the Ministry of Justice, and the Nigerian Bar Association to host the Justice Sector Reform Summit in April.

 

He expressed hope that the far-reaching decisions made at the summit will greatly assist the justice sector.

 

For a better society

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