The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), have warned that the Federal Government would not tolerate subversion of the democratically elected government under whatever guise.
Fagbemi affirmed that the government will promote and uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens, but insisted that any infraction or breach of the same rights by any person or organisation under any guise except as stipulated by the Constitution.
The AGF pointed out that the present administration has a clear mandate from the people and can only be changed at the end of its tenure as prescribed by the Constitution.
Fagbemi spoke on Thursday at the valedictory court session in honour of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired on August 22, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
According to Fagbemi, any other mode or attempt to change a democratically elected government except as provided by the Constitution is nothing but a clear case of treason and subversion of democratic governance.
He said the laws of the land have made copious provisions on how to deal with treasonable acts, stressing that the full wrath of the law will catch up with such a treasonable felony, and he reassured that the federal government is irrevocably committed to massively changing the course of narratives within the country’s justice sector.
The Justice Minister said that with the massive turnaround being put in place by the present administration, the justice sector will be given the place of pride it deserves.
Specifically, the AGF said the government will eradicate all forms of obstacles militating against the modernisation, effectiveness, and efficiency of the justice sector, adding that, with the recent 300 per cent salary increment for judicial officers, the efforts of the government will enhance and promote the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Fagbemi thanked the Supreme Court for rescuing local governments in Nigeria from the claws of governors, just as he called on the Attorneys General of States in the country to advise their various governors to obey the judgement of the Supreme Court on the financial autonomy of local government areas in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, said Justice Ariwoola has left a remarkable footprint in the 32 years he has stayed in the judiciary of the country.
Maikyau commended the retired CJN for his commitment to the improvement of the welfare of judicial officers in the country, adding that Ariwoola’s commitment to the cause contributed to the signing into law of the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc.) Act, 2024, by the President, which increased the salaries and allowances of justices and judges in the country.
He said the NBA will continue to support the judiciary and will protect and ensure its independence, adding that “we will call out those who are giving the judiciary a bad name and will ensure that they are dealt with in accordance with the law.”.
In his address, Justice Ariwoola called for measures to be put in place to reduce the backlog of cases at the Supreme Court, pointing out that there are too many cases before the apex court that ought to have been terminated at the appellate court.
He said access to justice has contributed largely to the delay in the hearing of cases as litigants and lawyers are forced to wait for several years to have their cases decided.
Justice Ariwoola explained that the right to a fair hearing can only be guaranteed when lawyers and litigants do not have to wait for so long to have their cases adjudicated.
He also stressed the need for the bench to have more judicial officers to adjudicate on all matters timeously.
Ariwoola, who was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011, bowed out of service on Thursday after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
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