The 29-member stakeholders’ committee, constituted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher to deliberate on the problems affecting the judiciary in recent times, as well as proffer implementable recommendations that will realign the judicial system to meet societal expectations, yesterday, submitted its report to the CJN.
The committee, led by the former CJN, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, however recommended constitutional and legislative amendments.
Other members of the committee drawn from the Bar and the Bench had four former CJNs, three Justices of the Supreme Court, three past Presidents of the Court of Appeal, three Chief Judges of Federal and State High courts, a former Judge of the International Court, 13 legal practitioners of repute with two as Heads of Judiciary related parastatals.
A source close to the committee disclosed that at least three members refused to sign the report as a result of some recommendations made by the committee. This, interestingly, was also confirmed by the chairman, Uwais who after presenting the report, noted that three people did not sign the report. The three members, according to him, were the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Joseph Daudu, (SAN) and two former Presidents of the NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, (SAN) and Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, (SAN).