The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Tanko Muhammad says it will not be out of place for lawyers to criticise judges where necessary as a step towards ensuring improvement in the country’s justice delivery system.
Muhammad said this in Abuja on Sunday at the occasion to mark the 40th anniversary of the1981 Nigerian Law School set call-to-bar.
He, however, said that such criticism must be offered in good faith and objectivity that will propel judicial officers on the bench to enhanced performance.
The CJN along with some Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Judges in other courts and senior lawyers in the country of the same set marked the occasion.
He said that Lawyers at the bar and Justices on the bench must keep on cooperating, helping one another in the task of ensuring quick dispensation of justice and advancing the course of justice.
“As critical stakeholders in the task of justice delivery, you have the responsibility of drawing our attention where things are going wrong, or on the verge of going wrong.
“You have the onerous task of guiding those of us on the bench because we must not fail, as your representatives on the bench.
“As lawyers of 40 years post call to bar, I appreciate you for a number of reasons, being together for a very long time”.
He noted that they are all successful in their endeavours, therefore have to strengthen the relationship between each other.
“It is good that we put everything together for us to be together as it has been since we left law school. We must leave a very good legacy.
“Let us think of things very important for the generality of our mates since I can testify that God has blessed our class. Each and every one of us is doing really well.
“As at today, I have not heard of any of us in okro soup trying to get out. We have become the pacesetters. I’m always very pleased to see our classmates.
“Destiny is in the hands of God. We must keep on cooperating and take it that the progress of one is the progress of all”.
The Chairman of the 1981 set Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN noted that the set was unarguably the most distinguished since the Law School opened its doors in 1962 to students.
He revealed that six Justices of the Supreme Court at the moment are from the set while the seventh person, Justice Sidi Bage resigned to be coronated as the Emir of Lafia, Nasarawa state.
“It has also produced 16 Senior Advocates of Nigeria along with notable Professors of law and captains of industry who have been keeping the country’s economy on steady growth.
“The set has produced seven Justices of the Supreme Court, two Justices of the Court of Appeal, four Judges of the federal high court, nine Chief Judges of the high court of various states, two Presidents of the Customary Court of Appeal, and 30 Judges of various high courts in Nigeria”.
The Chairman of the National Planning Committee, Chief Chris Uche SAN appreciated members of the Set for their commitment to the ceremony and the confidence in the planning committee.
The six Justices of the apex court from the set are Tanko Muhammad, Olukayode Ariwoola, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Uwani Abba’ji, Lawal Mohammed Garba and Adamu Kauri.
