Just In : Senate orders new probe of ex-CJN over corruption allegations
The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, on Tuesday, received a fresh order to probe the erstwhile Chief Justice, Tanko Muhammed over the allegations of corruption raised against him by some justices of the Supreme Court.
Tanko Mohammed had just been accused of corruption by 14 Supreme Court Justices, which the former Chief Justice of Nigeria
disputed.
The Committee, chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has now been given permission by Senate President Ahmad Lawan to look into the accusations made against the former Chief Justice of Nigeria and the turmoil that is currently roiling the judiciary.
“The chamber mandates the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to go ahead with its assignment in the quest to find a permanent resolution to the issue by engaging with relevant stakeholders to address the complaints raised in the petition by the Justices of the Supreme Court,” Lawan said.
“Mandate the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to interface with the relevant stakeholders in the three pillars of government as well as at the bar and on the bench to collate aggregate views and positions on the short-, medium-, and long-term measures needed to decisively address the crisis facing the judiciary, including the immediate fiscal intervention as well as long-term and sustainable budgetary allocations,” the Senate stated in its resolution.
The Senate took note that on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Lawan called the Senate’s attention to media reports on the situation at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In a petition addressed to the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council, the Justices of the Court raised concerns about their appalling living conditions and challenging working conditions.
He further pointed out that the Senate President emphasised the necessity for the Senate to act quickly because any problem involving the judiciary is one of critical national importance, which the Senate could not afford to ignore and let to get out of hand. The Senate’s President instructed the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to investigate the situation in order to determine what led to the current development in the judiciary and how the Senate may effectively respond to the issues expressed by the Justices.
