Ordinarily, ceremonies in the hollow chambers of the Supreme Court are meant to be solemn. No laughing. No clapping. No dancing. But, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola almost lost control of his court on Monday as counsels,friends,and families of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) not only clapped, they laughed and danced to celebrate the professional elevation of their beloved ones.

The CJN used the occasion to reiterate calls for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for certain cases to terminate at the appellate court and improved funding of the judiciary.

“This is a clarion call to the other two arms of government to make the funding of the judiciary a major priority. Stressing;” we don’t have to work like elephants and feed like ants”, Justice Ariwoola said.

On the independence of the judiciary, he said; “The Nigerian Judiciary, to a large extent, is independent in conducting it’s affairs and taking decisions on matters before it without any extraneous influence. At the Supreme Court, without mincing words,we are completely independent in the way and manner we conduct our affairs, especially in our judgements. We don’t pander to the whims and caprices of anybody.

” I will make it clear to whoever that cares to listen that when the Nigerian Judiciary is assessed from the financial aspect,we are yet to be free or truly Independent. The annual budget of the Judiciary is still a fair cry from what it ought to be”, he stressed.

Justice Ariwoola who made the call on Monday, at the commencement of the 2022/2023 legal year of the Supreme Court and inauguration of 62 barristers and solicitors elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria argued that ” there should also be amendment of the constitution to stop most interlocutory appeals from coming to the Supreme Court; they should be allowed to end at the Court of Appeal.

“We have said it repeatedly that ordinarily, most appeals should be allowed to end at the Court of Appeal; but such Constitutional provision is yet to be enacted, so we have no blame in it, rather, we are daily overburdened by that long awaited Constitutional amendment as we work round the clock to attend to the plethora of appeals” Justice Ariwoola stated.
The CJN said;”The attitude of some of our lawyers too is unexciting.

“Some do not even mind throwing their integrity and reputation to the winds by taking briefs that they know lack substance, just for pecuniary reasons.

“So disturbing is the fact that even in the face of failure, they would still persuade their clients to push the case further on appeal” Justice Ariwoola said.

However, the CJN expressed optimism that, by the grace of God, under his leadership, the Supreme Court Justices will always work assiduously with the required speed to dispose of all cases that come before them.

” It is necessary to let you know that since my appointment as Chief Justice of Nigeria,my focus has been on re – inventing our processes, providing speedy and quality administration of justice, strengthening our structures of justice from the Supreme Court to other courts of records and stamping out corruption and all forms of underhand dealings from the system,” stressing, “I must leave the Nigerian Judiciary better than I met it”.

He disclosed that through the collaborative effort of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee ( COTRIMCO) the security agencies secured 3563 convictions.
He ,however, warned judicial officers to be on guard and be the master of the game.

“You cannot afford to put up any lackadaisical attitude at this critical period of our national history.Some politicians may be on the prowl looking for who to entrap in their usual dragnet of political stratagem. You must not fall for it: and you must not allow yourselves to be used,else the sledge hammer of justice will descend heavily on you. Always remember that the moment the food in the clean bowl is finished,the status of the bowl changes to “dirty”. Don’t allow anyone to use and dump you. Let your conscience be your guide and guard”, he warned.

Speaking at the occasion, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN
assured the judiciary that better days are ahead for the third arm of government and the overall administration of justice in our country.

Malami exuded confidence that the recent approval granted by President Muhammadu Buhari, in addition to increase in the salaries and allowances of judicial officers, and also for conditions for their health, well-being and professional development; will usher in a new lease of life and impetus for the judiciary to operate maximally in a more beneficial and rewarding environment.

President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, according to the AGF, in line with its commitment to promoting the rule of law, has accorded top priority to the funding of the judiciary, by ensuring a “progressive budgetary allocation to the judiciary which has seen an increase from N73billion in 2015 to over N130billion in 2022. A further increased sum of N150billion has been proposed for 2023”.

Malami disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Justice was in the process of reviewing the National Policy on Justice, to enhance stakeholders’ ability to tackle issues hindering the entire justice sector.