Why I Don’t Support Special Courts – Justice Mohammed
The incoming chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has given indication as to where he stands on the issue of creation of special courts to facilitate speedy dispensation of justice in some critical sectors of the economy.
To the Supreme Court judge who will be crowned the Chief Justice of the Federation, there is no need for the creation of special courts as the effectiveness of any court depends on integrity of members of the bar and bench.
He also offered his opinion on the fused office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and that of the minister of justice.
He said they ought to be separated because they play different roles and have different responsibilities.
Justice Mohammed offered these positions, while answering questions from senators at his confirmation session at the Senate yesterday.
He was accompanied by the outgoing CJN, Justice Aloma Muhktar, who will take a bow from the office tomorrow, president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, president of the National Industrial Court and other high ranking judicial officers. “Honestly, I don’t support creation of special courts specially to deal with specific cases like corruption. It is human beings that are managing the constitution, not the courts. It does not matter the name you put there, it is human beings that are there, it depends on the will to have the cases dispensed expeditiously”, he stated.
Speaking on the process through which succession to the position of the CJN is made, he said that the constitution does not make it mandatory for the highest ranking officer in the judiciary to be appointed as the head but any other means of selection could lead to disaffection in the arm.
He said, “There is nothing preventing the president of the country from appointing CJN from anywhere in the country, from any group of practitioners.It is so because of the tradition that has been inherited. Seniority is a part and parcel of legal profession and part of what is being applied because there is hierarchy in judicial offices.”
Justice Mohammed got unanimous confirmation.
President of the Senate, David Mark, urged him to bring more reforms to the judiciary with his wealth of experience.
