A former Second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, has asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, to justify the honour bestowed on him.
Ubani, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics on Wednesday, noted that the CJN was the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, following Justice Walter Onnoghen’s exit.
He said, “He (CJN) is imminently qualified to be the CJN. If you look at his curriculum vitae, he has been the most senior of them all, in the issue of character and experience that is key. And I think he has all that in clear abundance.
“So he has to justify this particular honour that has been given to him before the Senate today because the law requires that particular input from the Senate, he has to be the one to confirm.”
“The President has sent his name recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC). This is clearly in compliance with Section 231 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). So what is going on now is a process and that process has to be completed,” the lawyer added.
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Earlier during his screening before the Senate, Justice Muhammad said the judiciary was nothing without the other arms of government.
Ubani, in his reaction, alined himself with the position of the CJN, saying, “He is right. Judicial officials don’t actually speak for themselves.”
According to him, the NBA has a responsibility of speaking for the independence of the executive, legislative and judiciary.
While calling for an effective judiciary, the lawyer noted that a nation would be peaceful and efficient if its judicial arm was functional.
