Why Nigerian judges are exposed to temptation – Senate

  

The Senate Wednesday lamented the poor remuneration packages given to Nigerian judges and justices as monthly salaries, making them to compromise or be vulnerable to corruption   in the process of adjudication and dispensation of justice.

This is even as Senators who are members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, disagreed on a method to be adopted in screening the eight justices recently nominated by President Muhamnadu Buhari from the Court of Appeal as Justices of the Supreme Court.

The nominees of President Buhari for Apex Court are  Hon. Justice Lawal Garba, North West; Hon. Justice Helen M. Ogunwumiju, South West; Hon. Justice Addu Aboki, North West; Hon. Justice I. M. M. Saulawa, North West; Hon. Justice Adamu Jauro, North East; Hon. Justice Samuel C. Oseji, South South; Hon. Justice Tijjani Abubakar, North East; and Hon. Justice Emmanuel A. Agim, South South.

Before commencement of the screening exercise which was eventually done in the open, the chairman of the committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC, Kebbi Central),  in his opening remarks , bemoaned the poor welfare packages given judicial officers and justices in the country.

“The present situation in the country as regards welfare of judges and justices, call for a major intervention.

“Salaries and allowances of judicial officers, judges and justices in Nigeria, were last reviewed in 2008 through an Act of Parliament.

“At that time, the exchange rate of naira to a US dollar was N117 as against N467 it is now, clearly showing that Judges and justices salaries have been static over the years and even depreciating in value, ” he said.

Specifically, Senator Bamidele said presently , the take home pay of the Justices of Supreme Court per annum as far as basic salary is concerned, is N2.477million, while those of the Court of Appeal is N1.995million and judges of the High Court ,  N1.804million.

He said on a monthly basis, the total take home pay of Justices of the Supreme Court individually is N753,000 while those of the Court of Appeal are paid N608,000 each and the High Court Judges , N556,000.00 each .

“The enumerated poor take home packages for judges and justices, clearly, show that they are not being fortified in any way against temptation on the line of duty,” he said. 

He added that in South Africa, the Chief Justice collected the highest salary aside members of his family, adequately taken care of, as required measures against temptation and corruption.

Buttressing Senator Bamidele ‘s position, the Deputy President of the Senate , Ovie Omo-Agege, said issues raised were very critical and requiring urgent attention by the government , including the National Assembly where a bill for upward review of 12 year old salary structure of the judicial officers, judges and justices can be sponsored and expeditiously considered. 

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