As CJN Ariwoola Bows Out
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister Of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi has told protesters who embarked on the August hunger protest that it was treasonable to attempt to sack President Bola Tinubu from office.
The AGF warned that any attempt by anyone or group to push for a change of a democratically elected government in the manner that was witnessed during the protests will be seen as an act of treason while those involved will be made to face the law.
The AGF made this known on Thursday, during the Valedictory court session in honour of the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, at the Supreme Court, Abuja.
The AGF said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government is dedicated to protecting the democratic rights of citizens in the country and will not hesitate to deal with anyone plotting to truncate the peace the country currently enjoys.
Fagbemi said, “It is also pertinent to state that constitutional democracy and Governance has laid out its peculiar features and attributes.
“I must restate that elective and legitimate governments entrusted with the mandates of the people can only be changed constitutionally and legally by the electorate at the end of its term of office as prescribed by our laws and the Constitution of the country which is the grundnorm.
“Any other mode or means of attempting to change a democratically elected government except as provided by our laws and the Constitution is nothing but a clear case of treason and subversion of democratic governance.
“The laws of our land as well as the Constitution have made copious provisions for dealing with the same and bringing the full weight of the laws on such treasonable felons.
He said President Tinubu has demonstrated commitment to ensuring that the country has a more robust judicial system, by approving the increment of salaries for judges and promised more judicial reforms.
“Permit me to use this occasion to state that the Present Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government is irrevocably committed to massively change the course of narratives within our country’s justice sector.
“Nigeria’s justice sector shall continue to witness several massive turn-arounds, initiatives and projects that would restore, transform and reposition our justice sector and place it as the best in the global legal community.
“Recently, the President has assented to the Act which granted upward review of the salaries and allowances of the country’s judicial officers by 300% which we strongly believe would enhance and promote not only the independence of judiciary but will also properly place and position our judiciary as the true and real last hope of the common man and indeed a renewed hope for all and sundry to get from our various courts not only judgements well delivered but justice in action.
Fagbemi said the president is also aware of the current challenging times and appealed to Nigerians to be patient as the government is working tirelessly to turn around the economy of the country.
He thanked the Supreme Court for their landmark judgement on Local Government autonomy, which resorted authority to the local government, to manage their affairs, breaking off from the oppression they have endured from state governors.
The AGF hailed the outgoing CJN, Ariwoola for his outstanding leadership and said the judiciary will still need his wealth of wisdom at all times.
He said “Today marks the end of a most memorable and impactful judicial career, which spanned a period of Thirty-Two years, from when he was first appointed a High Court Judge of Oyo State in November, 1992. Indeed, His Lordship came, saw and conquered (veni, vidi, vici).
“He has made his mark and left indelible imprints in the annals of the Nigerian judiciary and the legal profession in general.
“I must remark that the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria is a stabilising factor who mounted the saddle at a challenging moment for the Apex Court and he has creditably sustained the sanctity of this hallowed court both as a court of policy, final arbiter and regulator of the justice sector,” the AGF said.
Meanwhile, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola bowed out of office as the CJN, having reached the compulsory retirement age of 70.
Ariwoola lamented on the number of cases that gets to the Supreme Court, leading to a congestion of the Apex Court and said some of those cases should have stopped at the Court of Appeal.
He also stressed the need for speedy adjudication of Justice in the country and judges to ensure that cases are not allowed to linger.
Ariwoola was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011, after serving as a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011, having previously served as a state High Court judge in Oyo State.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is expected to take over as CJN having been recommended by the National Judicial Council for appointment.