NBA Conference: CJN advocates full financial Autonomy for Judiciary

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko, has called for full financial autonomy for the judiciary to would enable judges uphold justice without interference.

The CJN disclosed this at the 59th annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Lagos on Monday.

TVC NEWS’ senior political correspondent Ayodele Ozugbakun reports that although sections 84 (2) (4) (7) and 121 (3) of the 1999 constitution as amended ostensibly grant financial autonomy to the Judiciary by providing that recurrent expenditure of judicial officers of the federation and the state’s be a charged to the consolidated revenue fund of the federation.

This is not one provision of the Nigerian constitution that the executive arm has complied with, at the expense of the judiciary, the third arm of government. The lack of autonomy for judicial officers means the judiciary is still subject to interference.

It was a gathering of more twelve thousand lawyers making it the biggest in Africa such gathering in Africa. Set to last four days with the thme Facing The Future_, president of the NBA Paul Usoro delivered the opening remark and provided an insight into what the conference looked to achieve.

Minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation Mr Abubakar Malami who represented President Muhammadu Buhari declared the conference opened.

Remarks were also made by the president of the international bar association and the Lagos state government playing host this year.

The 4-day event will feature more 40 technical sessions at designated venues to address several challenges facing the country and the legal profession.