CJN to senate: Justices were embarrassed when memo protesting poor welfare leaked

Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), says he and his colleagues at the supreme court were embarrassed when a memo detailing their poor welfare leaked.

In the memo issued in June, 14 justices of the apex court accused Ibrahim Muhammad, immediate past CJN, of abandoning his responsibilities as the leader of the court.

Some of the issues raised by the justices include accommodation, vehicles, electricity tariff, supply of diesel, internet services to justices’ residences, training for justices and electricity supply to the court.

Muhammad resigned not long after the memo became public knowledge.

Appearing before the senate on Wednesday for a screening exercise, Ariwoola told the senators that it was a “miracle” to them when they saw their memo in the media.

“Justices of the supreme court didn’t write a petition to or against Justice Mohammed Tanko as CJN few months back… [it was a] memo where issues relating to welfare of each of the hustices and unconducive working environment of justices at the supreme court generally were raised,” he said.

“We the justices were embarrassed when we read the content of our memo in the papers. It was never intended to be for public consumption since the motive behind the memo was not to fight or bring down anybody

“When the handwritten memo was signed by all the justices, we didn’t allow anybody to see it, making its leakage to the media to be like a miracle to us.”

Ariwoola said the judiciary should be properly funded for it to carry out its responsibilities.