LIVE UPDATES
Renowned Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has issued a heartfelt plea to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, urging him to undertake a comprehensive reorganization of the judiciary. In an open letter addressed to the CJN, Clark emphasized the critical need to arrest the perceived decline in the standards of the judiciary.
Expressing concern, Clark implored the CJN to leverage his esteemed position to steer the judiciary onto a more positive trajectory. The one-time national commissioner highlighted the pressing issues of embarrassing, conflicting, and contradicting judgments, urging Justice Ariwoola to address and rectify these challenges.
Clark offered valuable advice, encouraging the CJN to wield his authority effectively in order to instigate the much-needed restructuring of the judiciary. He also reminded Justice Ariwoola of his pivotal role in the well-known petition against the immediate past CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad.
The open letter detailed the grievances of judges, including concerns about issues such as vehicles, electricity tariff, supply of diesel, internet services to residences and chambers of justices, and inconsistent power supply to the court. Additionally, the judges expressed dissatisfaction with the discontinuation of training programs under the previous CJN.
Clark underscored the importance of his open letter, stating, “My Lord, I have decided to write this open letter to your Lordship as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) because the alleged corruption and malpractices in the Judiciary amounting to the naked abuse of the office can no longer be tolerated as it is a significant dent to the image of the noble profession to which we all belong.”
Furthermore, he cautioned against any form of "socialization" between the judiciary and certain Senators who are currently facing criminal charges in the courts. The open letter stands as a poignant call for reform within the judiciary to uphold its integrity and restore public trust.
