Says current SCourt worst in 45 years
Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba(SAN), have said the current Supreme Court is the worst in his 45 years of legal practice, accusing the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Supreme Court judges have formed a mafia.
Agbakoba stated this on Thursday in Abuja, at a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, which 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.
He said, 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.
The senior lawyer asked the National Assembly to make laws for the appointment of senior judges in the country, saying there is a difference between the administration of justice and judicial administration.
According to him, We still mix the administration of justice, which the National Assembly cannot interfere, with judicial administration, which the National Assembly can make laws.
There should be a law governing the appointment process of senior judges. We cant leave it to the National Judicial Council. What the constitution says is that once you are 15 years, you are qualified. But the NJC and Supreme Court judges have formed a mafia; and we dont 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 cant go there because that is the internal workings of the judiciary but judicial administration, the National Assembly can make laws.
Over the past few months, the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, has come under criticism over election-related judgments.
