Buhari pledges support for judiciary

08 Dec Buhari pledges support for judiciary

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his promise to support the judiciary to ensure it discharges its mandate efficiently.

He was represented by the e Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who made the pledge on Mr Buhari’s behalf at the opening ceremony of the conference for Justices of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday evening in Abuja.

Mr Mustapha, who was a guest at the event, told the gathering of judges and lawyers that he had met Mr Buhari earlier in the day at the Presidential Villa, where the latter asked the SGF to convey his wishes to the judiciary.

“I want to assure you of the support of the federal government in ensuring that the Court of Appeal is well-resourced to dispense justice efficiently,” Mr Mustapha said.

He went to say: “I met with President Buhari earlier this afternoon, and he said he is with the judiciary; to leave a legacy of judiciary that can bequeathed to future generations.”

After making his remarks, the SGF unveiled the Court of Appeal Rules 2021, which he said would ensure “the speedier and fairer dispensation of justice.”

He lauded the Court of Appeal President, Monica Dongban-Mensen, for her innovative leadership of the appellate court.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Tanko Mohammad, while declaring the conference open, decried the enormous workload the Justices of the appellate court grapple with.

Mr Mohammad had on different occasions raised concerns over the heavy workload on justices, especially his colleagues at the Supreme Court.

But he was particular about the Court of Appeal at the Tuesday event, saying, “Justices of the Court of Appeal are terribly overworked; Justices of the court do not sleep.”

He called for the “cooperation” of stakeholders.