CJN says Supreme Court is broke, can’t meet needs of Justices

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, said the judiciary is broke and could no longer meet the demands of Justices of the Supreme Court.

In his official reaction to the allegations of uncaring attitude levelled against him by his brother Justices in the apex court, the CJN admitted on Tuesday, that the Supreme Court, like any other establishment in the country, had been hit by devastating economic crunch.

For more than two weeks, Justices of the apex court had voiced out their grievances against Justice Mohammad’s leadership style, accusing him of not caring for their welfare.

This culminated into a letter signed by 13 Justices of the court, to which the CJN now replied, stating the state of the court.

Similarly, two retired justices, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, and Justice Ejembi Eko also gave sordid accounts of the harsh conditions of service that Justices go through. Many of them, according to these reports have been on the same salary for more than 10 years. All these were also stated in the justices letter.

However, in his reply, the CJN said as a result of the economic squeeze, the leadership of the court under him could no longer meet some of its obligations to Justices especially in the area of welfare.

He, however, said that the memo sent to him by the aggrieved Justices notwithstanding, there was no rift between him on one side and Justices of the court on the other side.

The reaction was contained in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy and made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.

It is entitled: “State Of Affairs In The Supreme Court And Demand By Justices Of The Supreme Court”

It reads in part: “The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad would wish to confirm receipt of a letter written and addressed to him by his brother Justices of the Supreme Court Bench.

“Judges in all climes are to be seen and not heard, and that informs why the CJN refrained from joining issues until a letter, said to be personal, is spreading across the length and breadth of the society. This was akin to dancing naked at the market square by us with the ripple effect of the said letter

“The Supreme Court definitely does not exist outside its environment, it is also affected by the economic and socio-political climate prevailing in the country. Besides that, the Apex Court has to a larger extent, been living to its constitutional responsibility.

“When a budget is made, it contains two sides, that’s the recurrent and the capital, yet all the two are broken down into items. The Federal Government releases the budget based on the budget components. And it’s an offence to spend the money meant for one item for another.

“Take for instance, the Supreme Court budgeted this year to re-roof and rehabilitate its complex built over 30 years ago and that is being done.

“The work on the extension of the complex is near completion, the aesthetic lawns and cleanness of the perimeters are being well kept, and security and water supply are adequately provided for his brother Justices in their offices and residences.

“During the period of pandemic, a profound and extra-care was maintained to avoid casualties among them as well as the staff generally. It would have amounted to an act of irresponsibility to divert money meant for the above for otherwise.

“The accusation so far, in summary, is that more or all ought to have been done and not that nothing has been done; which is utopian in the contemporary condition of our country.

“Before eight new Justices were appointed in 2020 onto the Apex Court bench, there was no additional budget to provide new chambers with equipped libraries, legal assistance, residential accommodations and logistics for them.

“The apex court has to make do with the resources at its disposal to meet their needs over time. All the Justices of this Court have at least a legal Assistant, except some may opt for more.

“One of the CJN’s legal Assistants (now Justice Aina) was appointed to Abuja FCT High Court last month, while another (Barr Ramatu) died three months back. Generally the Judiciary is looming up to recruitment of more legal assistance and other supporting staff this year.

“Besides, two Supreme Court Justices died within the period under consideration. Both the four retirees and the two departed cost the court some funds in the forms of gratuities and allowances.

“Two weeks ago, eight Supreme Court Justices were nominated for a workshop in London as the court cannot take all of them there at once otherwise the job would suffer. They would be going in batches.”