The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on the Solicitor General of the Federation/Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Adedayo Apata and 37 other senior lawyers.
The swearing-in of the new SAN’s which took place on Monday, 23rd September, 2019 was part of the event to mark the beginning of the 2019/2020 legal year of the Supreme Court.
The CJN in his remarks, called for full financial independence of the judiciary, saying that the present situation whereby the judiciary go cap in hand begging for funds has made the independence of the judiciary in doubt.
He noted that the annual budget of the judiciary is still a far cry from what it ought to be. “The figure is either stagnated for a long period or it goes on a progressive decline. The only thing I can do at this juncture is to plead with all concerned to let us enjoy our independence”, he explained.
He, however stated that the Nigerian judiciary, to an extent, is independent in conducting its affairs and taking of decisions on matters before it, without any extraneous influence.
In his remarks, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), called on Justices of the Supreme Court to not bow to the pressures of different political actors, irrespective of any irregularity that might have occurred in the course of dispensing justice by different election tribunals.
Represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation/Permanent Secretary, Adedayo Apata (SAN) said, “It is important that this court, as a final arbiter remains just and resolute in resolving all issues presented before it.Let me at this juncture, reflect on the issue that has dominated the public space in recent times that requires our collective urgent attention, which bothers on granting of interview by Counsel during the tendency of a matter or after judgment has been delivered over his matter”.
“I must state that in as much as the Constitution enjoins freedom of speech, it has to be within the context of ethics of our noble profession.
Therefore, it is not in the interest of the Nigerian legal profession for lawyers, who are bounded by Rules 1 and 30 of the Rule of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, to grant interview disparaging the Court of law and its judgment, thereby eroding the sanctity of our judiciary”, the HAGF said.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro (SAN) congratulated the new silks, whom were said to have been found worthy by their superiors and peers, of wearing the coveted rank of SAN. He stressed that they were chosen from a large number of applicants based on their outstanding qualities.
Worried by the alleged abuse of powers and egotistic humiliation and degradation of lawyers and the legal profession by some law enforcement agencies, he said the body is calling on members of the association to speak with one voice in this regard and that members of the Inner Bar, must join the NBA in taking the lead.
Speaking on behalf of the new SANs, Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, one of the recipients, admonished the recipients to conduct themselves well in line with their new rank.
She said “As officers in the temple of justice, we are obliged to treat the courts with respect, dignity and honour and channel any legitimate complaints only through the appropriate authority and not conduct ourselves in any manner that will obstruct, delay or adversely affect the administration of justice or negatively impact on the perception of legal practitioners and our judiciary by the public, domestic and international”.
Recall that out of the 117 legal practitioners that applied for the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2019, 38 were successful at the end of the rigorous exercise.
The number comprised three academics and 35 advocates.
OGUNDORO MODUPE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (INFORMATION)
