CJN Seeks Amendment For Termination Of Most Cases At Appeal Court
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, has called on the National Assembly to amend laws and allow termination of most appeals at intermediary courts, to reduce burden on the Supreme Court.
According to the CJN, from September last year to July this year, the Supreme Court received 1,271 cases, consisting of motions and appeals. Out of these, he said: “We heard 388 political appeals, 215 criminal appeals, and 464 civil appeals.”
Ariwoola said during the period under review, the Supreme Court delivered 251 judgments. Out of these, 125 were political appeals, 81 were civil appeals, and 45 were criminal appeals.
The CJN made the disclosure at a special session of the court to mark the beginning of the 2023/2024 new legal year and conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in Abuja.
He said the year’s “score-card is impressive, fascinating and appreciable, in view of the unpleasant events that dotted the legal year, especially the attenuating number of justices on the Supreme Court bench, which has to do with some challenges that could not easily be surmounted by one arm of government alone”.
He assured that the Supreme Court is determined to redouble efforts to have a judiciary that citizens would be proud of.
He noted that the judiciary must vigorously avoid any semblance of fear or favoritism, and warned that “should the people perceive any bias, corruption, or partiality in judgments, doubts will be cast upon the integrity of the entire judicial system, thus contaminating the river of justice.”
While confirming the rank of SAN on 58 legal practitioners, Ariwoola charged them to be worthy ambassadors of justice.
He said: “As Senior Advocates of Nigeria, you now carry a heavy burden on your shoulders. From the moment you leave this courtroom, everything in you and about you will be freely scrutinised and dissected by everyone that comes in contact with you.
“There is nothing like private life for you henceforth, as whatever you hitherto regarded as private life will now be treated as public life by members of the public; and there is nothing you can do about it.
“So, watch your utterances, watch your actions and watch the kind of company you keep, because you have already assumed the role of ministers of the court; you are now expected to assist the court to attain justice, equity and fairness in all ramifications. You must display enormous integrity, self-discipline and a high standard of advocacy, as custodians of justice.”
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in his speech, reminded the new SANs of existing law that could take away the rank in the event of unprofessional conduct.
He said: “Being a privilege also means that it can be lost or taken away. It is worthy of note that under the new rules, once a name is struck off, there is no provision for restoration of the name to the roll. Therefore, you must continue to sustain the standards and qualities for which you were considered worthy of the rank ab initio.”
