CJN Muhammad issues strong warning against executive harassment of judicial officers

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, on Wednesday issued a strong warning against executive harassment of judicial officers on Nigeria. Justice Muhammad at a special session of the formal commencement of 2021/2022 legal year of the Supreme Court in Abuja cautioned individuals in executive positions and agencies of the government to henceforth desist from any form of harassment and embarrassment of judicial officers in Nigeria.

Justice Muhammad, citing the invasion  of the residence of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court in Abuja, warned that the judiciary will no longer tolerate such executive lawlessness in the country.

The CJN declared: “I must say, we were jolted with embarrassing news of the invasion of the official residence of one of our brother Justices, Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili, on Friday 29th October 2021, by men suspected to be security operatives, acting on a search warrant purportedly obtained from an Abuja Magistrate’s Court under questionable circumstances.

“I must make it known to all and sundry that we have had enough dosage of such embarrassments and harassments of our judicial officers across the country and we can no longer take any of such shenanigans. The silence of the judiciary should never be mistaken for stupidity or weakness.

“By the nature of our work, we are conservative but not conquered species and should not be pushed further than this by any individual, institution, or agency of the government. With time, those taking the judiciary as a mere weakling will soon realise that it is from the calmest seas, we often experience the fiercest storms.”

Justice Muhammad maintained that the era of oppressing, suppressing, and intimidating judicial officers is long gone and such action will no longer be condoned.

According to him, “no one irrespective of his or her status or position in the country, should test the will of the judiciary, the consequence of such unwarranted provocation would be too dire to bear.”

The CJN declared that the judiciary would henceforth begin to resist any clandestine attempt to silence or ridicule judicial officers to oblivion.

Justice Muhammad stated: “Nigeria, to the best of my knowledge, is not a lawless society.

“We should begin to do things that will project us favourably and rightly, too, to the international community.

“No law permits anyone to invade, subdue or overawe any Nigerian citizen in his or her residence with a flimsy, fraudulently obtained search warrant.”