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The President has displayed exceptional statesmanship, patriotism and selflessness, as a converted democrat.
I commend the President for his bold initiative to grant financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary of the States, through the executive order newly signed, to enforce the 4th Alteration of the Constitution.
It takes courage and selflessness for the head of the executive to grant autonomy to the judicial arm of government, when it is considered that most cases in the courts are to check the excesses of the executive arm, being the organ of government responsible for the implementation of policies.
But it is not enough to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary but also to ensure compliance with the rule of law through full and complete obedience to all orders and decisions of the courts.
I urge the President to grant total autonomy to the judiciary by signing another executive order to all parastatals, agencies and departments of government to implement section 287 of the 1999 Constitution by complying with all orders, judgments and decisions of the courts.
In addition, the statutory power placed upon the Attorneys-General to grant approval for the enforcement of monetary judgments involving government revenue is one of the greatest encroachments upon the powers of the judiciary, whereby a member of the executive is still required to approve or refuse the enforcement of a final decision of any court, even after full trial. The President should uproot this anomaly urgently.
I urge the Governors of the States to cooperate with the President for the full implementation of this executive order in all parts of the federation.
Death of Hon Jus Adolphus Karibi-Whyte JSC
In the death of Hon Jus Karibi-Whyte, Nigeria has lost a foremost jurist and a fearless adjudicator with a robust intellectual mind. He was full of wits, wisdom and judicial stamina to tackle most cases that he participated in, either in writing the leading judgment, supporting judgment or dissenting judgment.
He rendered very profound explanations behind the reasonings contained in his judgments, all of which have helped to shape the course of judicial history in Nigeria.
He deployed his knowledge and experience garnered from private legal practice, up to the Bench as a judge of the then Revenue Court, now known as the Federal High Court, up to the Supreme Court, in the practical application of the determination of cases brought before him. His book on the practice and procedure of the Federal High Court is always a delight for judges, lawyers, law teachers and law students alike.
I hereby extend my heartfelt condolences to the Nigeria Bar, to the Governor and good people of Rivers State, to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President on the demise of this erudite jurist.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN
Lekki, Lagos.
23/05/2020.
