President Goodluck Jonathan had yesterday asked the newly inaugurated Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN Justice Aloma Mukhtar, to tackle the problem of delay in justice, cases of corruption and work towards restoring the needed sanity in the Judicial system.
President Goodluck Jonathan gave this charge during the swearing in ceremony of the new CJN in Abuja yesterday.
President Jonathan said: “Today, we are witness to history with the swearing in of Justice Aloma Mukhtar as the first female CJN. I join millions of our country men, women and youths in congratulating the Nigerian judiciary and Your Lordship as we record this important milestone in the annals of our nation’s judicial history.
“She was the first female lawyer of the northern extraction, the first female High Court Judge from the north, first female second in command, Kano State judiciary, the first Nigerian female jury to be elevated to the Court of Appeal, where she served for over 17 years.
“Today, she has risen to the pinnacle of her judicial career as the first female CJN in further service of our great country. My Lord, I congratulate you. Her Lordship’s achievement is an inspiration to all citizens, especially womanhood, not only in Nigeria but also in Africa and the rest of the world.
“The honourable CJN now joins an eminent and exclusive list of achievers recognized throughout the world as beacons of hope in this century. She will after leaving office become a member of our nation’s highest advisory council, the Council of State. Here again she will make history as the first female permanent member of that council.
”Your lordship is assuming office at a time when the nation is undergoing reforms in all critical areas of governance; it is particularly gratifying that her lordship had pledged during her Senate confirmation hearing to pursue judicial reform.
“I am, therefore, confident that your lordship will quickly settle down to work and commence urgent task of reforming and repositioning the judiciary for effective and efficient discharge of constitutional mandate. I have no doubt that your work at our nation’s apex court will benefit from your essential character of integrity, humility and courage.
”Your Lordship will preside over the judiciary at a time of profound changes that demand united response. We believe that judiciary can play a crucial role as we confront critical challenges.
“We are dealing with security challenges occasioned by sporadic act of terrorism in some parts of the country. The three arms of government must work together to overcome this terrorist threat and acts in the country.
”The war against corruption is another endeavour that calls for concerted action by all arms of government. I am confident that the judiciary, under your able leadership, will rise up to the challenge and provide the most needed support for government to address these challenges.
“Our citizens complained of delayed trial, particularly in cases of corruption, terrorism and other matters of serious concern. This complaint has led to frequent calls for special courts or designation of special judges to handle them with the required experience and speed. It will be your prerogative to consider and decide on this call.”
Speaking to newsmen after the ceremony, Justice Mukhtar emphasized on her earlier position that there was no need for a special court.
She said: “A judge, two or three in the states can be designated to take care of that. I will again go back to what I said in the Senate, that I will lead by example and I will hope and pray that the others will follow.”
Speaking on the current challenges in security, she said: “I did say, during my screening in the Senate, that we will partner with the authority to ensure that we curb this menace.”
Making her position known on delayed trail she said: “It is not the fault of the judges alone. We have counsel to contend with bringing various applications. We have the Constitution also to contend with.
“Witnesses will not be available and there is a whole litany of reasons for this delay. You just place the blame at the doorsteps of the judges.”
Attending the epoch making inauguration ceremony were Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senate President, Senator David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, and governors of Kano and Bayelsa states.
The CJN had promised to take the Judiciary to a different and unimaginable level.
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