Ekiti Attorney-General advocates review of judicial salaries

The Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.
Olawale Fapohunda has called for proper implementation of the report
of the Presidential Committee on the Review of Judicial Salaries and
Allowances.
Mr. Fapohunda, who made the call in Lagos while delivering a keynote
address at the public presentation of a book entitled ”Ministering
Justice” authored by Olasupo Shashore (SAN) and Dr. Akeem Bello, said
it has become essential to review judicial salaries to eliminate the
temptation of corruption as well as boost public trust in the judicial
system.
Remarking that judicial officers have been on the same salary
structure for more than 10 years, Fapohunda said the report of the
Presidential Committee indicated that the Federal Government reviewed
the salaries and allowances of Public Servants and Political office
holders four times in 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2011, between May 1999 and
March 2011 while the salaries of judicial officers were reviewed only
twice during the same period.
He stressed that, ”Judicial salaries must be set comparatively above
the public-service level to remove the temptation of corruption and
public suspicion and the possibility of such temptation.”
The Attorney-General described the call for resignation of judicial
officers who are unable to survive on their respective meagre salaries
as ridiculous and uncalled for adding that, It would be self-defeating
to continue to preach integrity on the bench without first removing
the temptations that comes with poor condition of service.
”While I agree that there can be no justification for any form of
judicial corruption, I am unable to accept that to serve on the bench
is a call to national service and penury”, he said.
Fapohunda stressed that a conducive condition of service and financial
security of judicial officials would lead to judicial independence
that would be to the benefit of all stakeholders.
Commenting on the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen, the
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice expressed hope that the
justice sector would definitely not return to the era of business as
usual but would commence the long overdue task of undertaking far
reaching reforms.
Present at the book presentation were the Chief judges of Borno State,
Hon. Justice Kashim Zannah, former Attorneys- General of Lagos State,
Hariat Balogun, Ade Ipaye and Kazeem Adeniji (SAN) as well as Prof.
Chidi Odinkalu of the National Human Rights Commission amongst other
notable personalities.