The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Coordinator of Rule of Law Development Foundation, Joseph B. Daudu, at the weekend accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Mukhtar, of high-handedness and undue interference in the administration of courts in the country.
Daudu, who spoke at the first quaterly press briefing of the foundation in Abuja at the weekend though admitted that the CJN has recorded commendable achievements in the fight against corruption in the judiciary, said the manner in which she is going about things, if unchecked may destroy the very foundation of independence upon which the judiciary is founded.
According to him, “the tenure of Justice Mukhtar as CJ has witnessed commendable strides in the fight against corruption within the system, of which we commend her.
“But there have, in the process of this battle against corruption, been certain actions that are clearly and unmistakably unconstitutional and which if unchecked will destroy the entire foundation on which independence of the judiciary is erected”.
According to him, the CJN has refused judges permission to travel abroad even when the head of the various courts gave positive recommendation for such trips.
“Of late, this situation has degenerated to the point where heads of courts, justices of the Court of Appeal and state High Court judges have been queried by the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria because they were sighted at a conference in which the Chief Justice was herself attending”.
“The Chief Justice has no power to initiate disciplinary action except in accordance with the Code of Conduct and Rules for the Discipline of Judicial Officers, which stipulates that such process cannot commence without a petition received from a person complaining against the conduct of a judicial officer. Where the CJN issues a query in the circumstances referred above, it is a needless dent on the record of the officer.”
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