28th May, 2012
Proceedings in criminal cases file by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, will soon be on a daily basis as 12 new Federal High Court judges were on Monday sworn into office by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher at the Supreme Court complex, Abuja.
According to the CJN, “the Federal High Court is now properly staffed to deal, without any delay, these cases filed by the EFCC and ICPC. Arrangements are being made to hear these cases from day to day without any adjournment. Some of these judges will be exclusively assigned to try all those high profile cases on day to day basis.”
While congratulating the new judges, the CJN commended the National Assembly for approving the increase in the number of Federal High Court judges from 70 to 100 and noted that the move will go a long way in reducing the number pending cases at the Federal High Court.
At present, the CJN stated that there are 150,000 pending cases at both the Federal High Courts and the State High Courts throughout the federation and commended the hard work and dedication to duty of the judges who man these courts.
He further urged them to sustain the momentum.
Justice Musdapher also pointed at efforts being made to reform the judiciary, noting that in the very near future, the process for employment of judges will be more rigorous and may include tests and interviews in order to choose the most suitable Nigerians to man the courts.
He charged the new judges to be up and doing in the discharge of their duties, noting that their appointment was in response to the cry against the delay in the speedy disposal of cases, especially criminal matters.
The CJN also called on them to guard against bribery and other forms of corrupt practices and observed, in the words of Hon. Justice M. A. Akambi, CFR, that a corrupt judge is not only a dangerous obstacle, he is an anathema and a disgrace to the profession or institution to which he does not deserve to belong.
The new judges are Mr. Suleiman A. Aliyu, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice in Kebbi State; Mrs. Oluremi Omowumi Oguntoyinbo, a Lagos-based private legal practitioner; Mrs. Ayua Pheobe Msuean, the Secretary of National Judicial Institute, NJI, Abuja; Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya, also a Lagos-based private legal practitioner; and Mr. Musa Haruna Kurya, a Deputy Chief Registrar at Gombe state High Court.
Others are Mr. Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Sokoto state; Miss Uche Nma Agomoh, a private legal practitioner working with the NBA president, Mr. Joseph Dawodu (SAN); Mr. Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court; and Mrs. Evelyn N. Anyadike, a Deputy Chief Registrar at Imo state High Court.
The rest are Mr. Fatun O. Riman, a private legal practitioner based in Calabar, Cross River state; Mrs. Chinda Ruhuoma S. Adele, a Chief Magistrate at the Rivers State Judiciary and Mrs. Folashade O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo, a Deputy Chief Registrar at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
—Nnamdi Felix / Abuja