Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says
insufficient justices at the supreme court is one of the main causes of prison
congestion in the country.
In a letter dated June 9 and addressed to President
Mohammadu Buhari, Falana asked the president to ratify the appointment of four
justices recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for elevation to
the supreme court.
According to Falana, the NJC in October 2019, recommended
Adamu Jauro, Emmanuel A. Agim, Samuel C. Oseji, and Helen M. Ogunwumiju, all appeal
court justices, for appointment as justices of the apex court.
Falana said the president is yet to forward the names of the
justices to the senate for confirmation “as required by section 231(2) of the
constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended”.
He reminded the president that the number of justices at the
supreme court has depleted to 12 as against the constitutionally required
number of 21 justices at maximum.
“The need to ratify and forward the names of these justices
to the senate for confirmation becomes more crucial and urgent if viewed
against the backdrop of the clamour for prison decongestion being championed by
your excellency,” Falana said.
“Just last month, your excellency forwarded a letter to the
chief justice of Nigeria requesting that measures be taken by the judiciary to
decongest prisons and detention facilities across the country amid the COVID-19
pandemic.
“From the information at our disposal, one of the main
causes of prison congestion is that the supreme court has not been able to hear
and determine many criminal appeals due to lack of enough justices.
“We are persuaded that your excellency would be furthering
the cause of prison decongestion by expeditiously ratifying the names
recommended by the NJC and forward same to the senate for confirmation.
“In other words, the workload and the number of civil and
criminal appeals pending at the supreme court would be significantly reduced if
the four Justices are appointed without any further delay.
“While urging your excellency to promote the cause of
justice by expeditiously ratifying the names recommended by the NJC and forward
same to the senate for confirmation please accept the assurances of our highest
esteem and professional regards.”
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