The Supreme Court currently has the fewest justices in its history, according to information disclosed on Friday by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, CJN.
He claims that there are not enough justices on the supreme court’s bench to handle the overwhelming volume of cases that are pending.
Judge Musa Dattijo Mohammed reached the statutory retirement age of 70 years old today, and Justice Ariwoola spoke on his occasion.
However, the CJN guaranteed that all efforts are fully focused on adding a significant number of Justices to the Court’s bench.
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There are now just 10 justices on the Supreme Court bench, which is the fewest in the court’s modern history, following Justice Musa Dattijo’s departure today and the retirement of Hon. Justice Adamu Amina Augie a few weeks ago.
Nonetheless, I can tell the litigant public with confidence that every effort is being made to bring on a significant number of Justices to increase our status and supplement the extraordinary work we have been putting into the Court’s operations.
The retiring justice was praised highly by the CJN, who stated, “My Lord Hon. Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, in whose honour we gather here today, is an exemplar of jurisprudential elegance; an insuperable lion with an irrepressible voice in the temple of justice…
We have gathered here to honour a distinguished legal iconoclast who has dedicated his considerable intellect to the progress of the legal field via years of impeccable and unquestionable rulings at various Nigerian court levels.
As that brave and distinguished Justice of the Supreme Court bench who unwaveringly maintained authority in the performance of his judicial duties, His Lordship has, by all accounts, made an incisive entry into the hallowed annals of the Nigerian judiciary.
In practically every area of administration, my Lord, Justice Dattijo, skillfully assisted and supported me as the second-in-command in the Supreme Court hierarchy. He embodies diligence, productivity, self-control, and moral rectitude.
In order to successfully navigate the frequently rough seas of court administration, he voluntarily supplied every assistance and motivation that a leader would always want to get from a deputy.
Therefore, the moment has come to stop serving as a judicial officer as this event marks his 70th birthday anniversary. Following this Court session, a new chapter in the life of my Lord will finally open, and His Lordship will start writing on it with a completely different group of persons whom destiny had already brought together during the course of his second phase of existence.
Truly, he is a priceless gem and an icon deserving of praise and admiration.
“[His Lordship is a judge who is capable of being extremely direct, even to the point of being irritating. He also never hesitates to call a spade a spade, regardless of whose ox gets gored.
“By virtue of his demeanour and behaviour, His Lordship has been able to establish a foundation of hope and optimism in the hearts and minds of his throngs of admirers; and even future generations who will have the honour to view and experience his monumental contributions to the field of justice, which are already extensively documented and prominently showcased on the shelves of numerous libraries worldwide.
“Before I conclude, My Lord, I would like to strongly encourage you to treasure and savour each and every moment of your life since, in most cases, this ceremony that we are all watching today will never happen again in your lifetime. We truly wish you luck and God’s grace in everything you do, and we extend our warmest wishes on your 70th birthday.
