SANS advocate better pay for judicial officers as Justice Oguntoyinbo retires

By Akin Kuponiyi

The Physique of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) has called for a overview of the salaries and emoluments of judicial officers in the nation, asserting that the condition of serving judicial officers is appalling.

The body made the name on Thursday for the length of the valedictorian courtroom session for the retiring of Justice Oluremi Omowunmi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court docket held in Lagos philosophize.

Speaking on behalf of BSAN, Mr Wale Babalakin, SAN, talked about the present remuneration of judges in Nigeria would possibly well possibly well no longer attract the greatest of fingers from the Bar.

Babalakin cited the instance of the western philosophize in 1964, where the authorities of the distance paid judges greater salaries than the Central Bank governor. This he talked about was performed to entice the greatest of brains into the arrangement.

“This impacted positively on the judicial arrangement of the distance at the time.

“Let me issue categorically that handiest the attorneys and Judges in energetic educate can consciously keep the judiciary. If we depend on individuals who’re temporarily in authorities to positively toughen the judiciary we must always live awake for a in point of fact lengthy time.

“It’s time we advance collectively and wrestle for ourselves. Let us celebration and keep the judiciary. As a son of a Judge of the feeble Western States, I’m apprehensive, and dissatisfied regarding the condition of carrier of the Judiciary.

“I’m unable to expose with it. I’m unable to verify it with the Judiciary I knew in my childhood. We relish witnessed the deterioration of the judiciary while we fold our hands, and peek as issues flow down.

“I’m calling on the Senior Advocates who’re making an entire bunch money through this methodology to know that we relish got to guard and toughen the judiciary.

“If we can continue to relish a forum for justice and construct the Judiciary perfect for the greatest of attorneys; I will give you a designate. In 1964 the salary of a excessive courtroom resolve of the feeble Western States was greater than the salary of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. That was since the Western States consciously decided to scheme the greatest to the Bench and construct them extra than delighted and be distinct that they lacked nothing. We must always wrestle for our occupation,” Babalakin talked about.

In his welcome take care of, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court docket, Justice John Tsoho, counseled Justice Oguntoyinbo for having served the courtroom and the nation for 10 meritorious years along with her health and integrity unscathed.

Tsoho talked about,” It is a extensive fulfillment for a resolve to abet especially this nation and retire without blemish.

“Justice Oguntoyinbo would possibly well possibly well merely be profiled as restful, very firm, friendly, humane, upright, generous, incorruptible, and tough working. She is amazingly dogged in the pursuit of her rights and entitlements.”

In her speech, Justice Oluyemi Oguntoyinbo lamented that Court docket Orders are once in some time no longer obeyed by the Federal authorities.

Citing the judgement she delivered in swimsuit no. FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 where she ordered the Federal Executive to salvage successfully pensions restful by old governors now serving as ministers and contributors of the National Meeting. Justice Oguntoyinbo talked about the judgement was but to be obeyed by the Federal and Yell governments.

“I bear in mind with pleasure my landmark judgment in swimsuit no. FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 delivered in November 2019 – Registered Trustees of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Challenge (SERAP) VS. The Lawyer Overall of the Federation and Minister Of Justice; where I ordered that States would possibly well possibly well merely restful urgently Institute acceptable lawful movement to danger the legality of Yell Guidelines allowing old governors who’re eventually Senators and Ministers to journey retirement emoluments while drawing well-liked salaries and allowances in their recent political situation of work and to name these enthusiastic and label full restoration of public funds from the old governors.

“Regrettably, that boom is but to be obeyed. I salvage it very disappointing that Court docket orders are once in some time no longer obeyed. If there’s anything else I want to alternate, it’s the impunity in opposition to judicial choices and the disrespect for the bench.

“I also in point of fact feel saddened by the insufficient recognition of the work of Judges no topic the excessive talents for appointment to the bench and the pitiable salaries of judges which relish remained static for quite a bit of years.

“I’m retiring sooner than my time because I had surgery to reset my correct hand in October 2022 which wished six (6) months to heal. I had suffered this ailment since 2019 however continued with my job since being a resolve in Nigeria requires significant writing. As one who enjoys writing, I could well possibly well no longer imagine continue to abet as a Judge without being in a space to jot down; this coupled with my Husband’s encouragement, brought on the risk to retire from the bench.

“I in point of fact relish heard from some sources that there would possibly well be a plan to construct greater the retirement age of Judges from 65 to 70 years. It is my humble submission that in hit upon of the cases prevailing in our Nation, retirement age for Judges would possibly well possibly well merely restful live at 65 years except the Executive is ready to put infrastructure in situation to discover a long way from lengthy handwriting for Judges which in itself ends in deterioration of the health of the Judges.

“Rather than that, there wants to be in situation mechanism to discourage frivolous litigations on the fragment of the Lawyers and acceptable remuneration for the Judges,” Oguntoyinbo talked about.

The Lagos Yell Lawyer Overall Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, who also spoke at the valedictory courtroom session lauded retired Justice Oguntoyinbo for her impartiality, equity, and courageous advance to the dispensation of justice.

Onigbanjo talked about Oguntoyinbo demonstrated a deep commitment to upholding the guideline of rules, defending the rights of the susceptible, and ensuring that justice is carried out in every case sooner than her.

Citing a landmark case decided by Justice Oguntiyinbo in swimsuit No FAC/L/CS/1497/2017, wherein the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Challenge, filed an application for an boom of mandamus, to narrate the Lawyer Overall of the Federation Abubakar Malami SAN, to salvage successfully on behalf of the federal authorities the pension restful by old governors who’re collecting salaries in other public providers.

Justice Oguntoyinbo was quoted in the judgment to relish ordered the federal authorities to salvage successfully the pension restful by the old governors and also directed the AGF, to danger the legality of philosophize pensions rules allowing old governors and other ex-public officers to discover such pensions.

Onigbanjo talked about that in the talked about judgment Justice Oguntoyinbo rejected the argument of the AGF, that he would possibly well possibly well no longer danger the states pension rules for old governors, stating that the AGF wants to be in the legality or validity of any rules in Nigeria and the design in which such rules relish an impression on or will relish an impression on Nigerians being the Chief Law Officer of the Federation.

He talked about, ” As well to her judicial responsibilities, Justice Oguntoyinbo has also contributed critically to the advance of various dispute risk in Nigeria.”

The Lawyer Overall of Ogun philosophize, Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, in his remarks described Oguntoyinbo as a firm resolve, diligent and prolific who is no longer going to permit attorneys to unnecessarily prolong cases in her courtroom.