Olisa Agbakoba, former president of the Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA), says the current supreme court is the “worst” in his 45
years of legal practice.
Agbakoba spoke on Thursday in Abuja at a colloquium to mark
the 61st birthday of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The colloquium was attended by President Bola Tinubu and many
political stakeholders, including members of the national assembly.
Speaking at the event, Agbakoba narrated how the “mafia” in
the National Judicial Council (NJC) rejected his application to join the bench
of the apex court.
“I was the first, accompanied by my brother, Wole
Olanipekun, who applied because we thought we were qualified to sit at the
supreme court. The mafia there threw us out,” he said.
The senior lawyer asked the national assembly to make laws
for the appointment of senior judges in the country.
Agbakoba said there is a difference between the
administration of justice and judicial administration.
“We still mix the
administration of justice, which the national assembly cannot interfere, with
judicial administration, which the national assembly can make laws,” he said.
“There should be a law governing the appointment process of
senior judges. We can’t leave it to the National Judicial Council. What the
constitution says is that once you are 15 years, you are qualified.
“But the National Judicial Council and supreme court judges
have formed a mafia, and we don’t get there.
“With the greatest respect, this is the worst supreme court
I have seen in my 45 years of practice.
“It has to change. A
challenge for the national assembly to enact a law that deals with judicial
administration.
“I did not say administration of justice, you can’t go there
because that is the internal workings of the judiciary but judicial
administration, the national assembly can make laws.
“You pass a law so that I don’t depend on the chief justice
of Nigeria if I want to be a judge, the law will be passed stating the criteria
to become a judge.”
Over the past few months, the judiciary, especially the
supreme court, has come under criticism over election-related judgments.
In October, Musa Dattijo Muhammad, a retired supreme court
justice, in his valedictory speech, faulted the composition of the panel that
delivered judgment on the presidential election petitions.
Muhammed also condemned the non-representation of the
north-central and south-east zones in the apex court.
The retired judge also complained that the chief justice of
Nigeria (CJN) had become too powerful.
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