Restore discipline in Judiciary-Akintola tells CJN, Kekere-Ekun

By

Omowumi Hannah, Ibadan

Chief Niyi Akintola is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria [SAN] and former Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly in the Third Republic. 

In this interview with new men, the senior lawyer urges the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice  Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to correct the public perception of  judicial officers  and restore discipline in the bar and the  bench. Akintola said the new CJN is expected to stamp her authority on the bar and the bench.

The Federal Government recently  announced a 300-per cent increase in the salary of judicial officers.  What do you have to say about this?

We have been on it for a while.  Before now, only former President Olusegun Obasanjo has done some increase for judicial officers.  Salaries of executive and legislative members  have been increased but for years, salaries of judicial officers were not increased.  That has done damage to the integrity of judicial officers. To God be glory, it is something that is commendable in the Tinubu administration. Under the Tinubu administration as governor, salaries of judicial officers were increased.  Justice Mohammed Uwais [rtd] came out publicly to commend Tinubu and charged  other states to emulate him.   It entrenched discipline and independence.  The recent increase will encourage judicial officers. 

Can states pay that increment?

Our judicial system is centralised. Even though the centralisation is  an aberration. All the salaries come from the National Judicial Council [NJC]. That was introduced under the Abacha regime because of the attitude of the state governments.

A new Chief Justice of Nigeria is assuming duty. What are the expectations of the justice community from Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun?

She has her job well cut out for her. Nobody should expect anything less. She is from a good home, maritally  and biologically.  She does her work without publicity or flamboyance. She is  a woman of impeccable characters. She is unassuming, not giving to frivolities. 

What form of reforms do you expect from her?

First, discipline at the bar and bench is key. Indiscipline is very rampant at the bar. Another one is the issue of corruption. She needs to correct the perception of the public within the judicial officers.  There must be cooperation between the bar and the bench. You cannot have a better judiciary if the bar is bad. Judicial members are drawn from the bar.

Thus, the CJN is expected to stamp her authority on the bar and the bench. She has seen it all.