Distinguished Colleagues,
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has on behalf of the NBA called for the immediate appointment of additional Justices to achieve the full complement of 21 Justices of the Supreme Court, as prescribed by Section 230(1 )(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mr. Maikyau made this demand while giving his speech at the valedictory court session recently held in honour of Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie, CFR, JSC at the Supreme Court Complex, Abuja.
Mr. Maikyau noted that it has become imperative that the Nigerian Constitution be amended to increase the threshold for the number of justices to be appointed to the Supreme Court and to reduce the number of matters that get to the Supreme Court by limiting the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to certain constitutional matters.
Giving update about the NBA’s engagement with the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the remuneration of judicial officers, the NBA President stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has directed a presidential working group to harmonise the recommendations from RMAFC, NBA and NJC, with the view to include the outcome in the 2024 budget appropriation. He added that the NBA has also proposed a new set of allowances in recognition of the peculiar demands of judicial office holders which include: Lifestyle Allowance, Dual Responsibility Allowance, Frequent Transfer Allowance and Long Service Allowance. Mr. Maikyau further noted that the NBA has recommended the delinking of judicial remuneration from that of the civil service, in order to strengthen the perception of judicial independence and to provide the necessary safeguard and reassurance to judicial officers.
In his address at the Court of Appeal, the NBA President tasks legal practitioners on the education of the public about the judicial process. His words: “The legal practitioner has a bounden duty to educate members of the public on matters of the law. He must always speak objectively without sentiments with the intention of providing direction. When we grant interviews on television and other media outlets, we must remember to speak the law only and to do so devoid of any emotions, sentiments, or other extraneous considerations. It is our responsibility to manage the expectations of the public; not to mislead/misinform the public, by objectively and dispassionately educating them on the law, to guide their expectations.”
Mr. Maikyau described the retired Justice Amina Augie as an exemplary jurist “who deftly combines knowledge and integrity with the right demeanour and discipline characteristic of a judge; a thorough and disciplined jurist; counsel appearing before my lord from his days in the magistracy must be prepared to answer straight and probing questions.” He remarked that “Justice Augie is an example of Nigerian women who are making important strides; breaking boundaries, challenging masculine domination of places of influence and authority and setting the stage for more women to rise to positions of authority within the judiciary and elsewhere.” And on behalf of the NBA, he wished His lordship, health and strength in retirement.
Kindly find attached for your reference, the two addresses of the NBA President.
Thank you and do have a great day.
Akorede Habeeb Lawal
National Publicity Secretary, NBA
