Stop Intimidating Judicial officers, CJN To Security Agencies

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad yesterday warned against the oppression, suppression, and intimidation of judicial officers.

He warned agents of the government, especially security operatives that harass officers of the judiciary, to tread carefully because “the consequence of such unwarranted provocation will be too dire to bear.”

The Chief Justice gave the warning during a special session of the Supreme Court to mark the commencement of the 2021/2022 Legal Year and the swearing-in of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) in Abuja yesterday.

He also gave the scorecard of the Judiciary in the outgone Legal Year. He listed the recovery of eight aircraft and 48 estates among non-cash assets recovered from corrupt persons as a result of quick completion of graft cases against them by the courts.

Citing the October siege to the Abuja home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili as one the instances of the harassment and intimidation of Judicial officers, Mohammad, disclosed that measures were being put in place to avert a reoccurrence.

One of such measures, according to him, is to ensure that the consent of either the Chief Judge of a state or the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court was first obtained before a search or arrest warrant order could be issued.

He words: “ I must say, we were jolted with embarrassing news of the invasion of the official residence of one of our brother Justices, Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili, on Friday 29” October 2021 by men suspected to be security operatives, acting on a search warrant purportedly obtained from an Abuja Magistrate’s Court under questionable circumstances.

“I must make it known to all and sundry that we have had enough dosage of such embarrassment and harassment of our judicial officers across the country and we can no longer take any of such shenanigans.

“The silence of the Judiciary should never be mistaken for stupidity or weakness. By the nature of our work, we are conservative but not conquered species and should not be pushed further than this by any individual, institution or agency of the government.

“With time, those taking the Judiciary as a mere weakling will soon realise that it is from the calmest seas we often experience the fiercest storms. The time to oppress, suppress, and intimidate judicial officers is gone.

“No one, irrespective of his or her status or position in the country, should test our will because the consequence of such unwarranted provocation will be too dire to bear.

“We shall begin to resist any clandestine attempt to silence or ridicule us to oblivion.

“No law permits anyone to invade, subdue or overawe any Nigerian citizen in his or her residence with a flimsy, fraudulently obtained search warrant.

“We are making efforts now to ensure that henceforth, every search or arrest warrant must be issued with the knowledge and approval of the Chief Judge of the respective State/Federal High Court, as the case may be.”