A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Saulawa, has urged politicians to stop attempting to influence judges through gifts, including cows, rams and other valuable items.
Justice Saulawa, who retired from the bench after attaining the mandatory age of 70, described such gifts as unacceptable and called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to take action against the practice.
He made the call on Tuesday during a valedictory court session held in his honour at the Supreme Court in Abuja.
The retired jurist said politicians should not send gifts to judicial officers in an attempt to influence their decisions.
“Why should a politician send a ram, cow or other items to a Supreme Court Justice? It is unheard of in other countries,” he said.
Justice Saulawa disclosed that he had previously raised the issue with the CJN, describing the practice as “demeaning” and frustrating.
He also urged judges across the country to uphold integrity, honesty and morality in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Recalling his experience on the bench, the retiring Justice said an influential individual once attempted to influence him before he delivered judgment in a case involving the person.
According to him, the individual had earlier presented him with a brand-new Peugeot vehicle, which he rejected.
He said the individual later sought the intervention of prominent personalities, including the Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Usman, and the District Head, Alhaji Balan Goggo, to persuade him to accept the gift.
Justice Saulawa said he remained firm and eventually convicted the individual in the case.
The retiring Justice also disclosed that he deliberately avoided some social gatherings while in service in order to protect his principles and maintain the integrity expected of a judicial officer.
Recounts role during June 12 crisis
Justice Saulawa also reflected on his role during the crisis surrounding the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
He recalled that he was the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal at the time and took steps to address conflicting court orders issued over the election.
He said the Federal Capital Territory High Court had issued two interim orders restraining the National Electoral Commission, then headed by Professor Humphrey Nwosu, from conducting the presidential election and announcing its results.
According to him, some state high courts subsequently issued conflicting orders directing that the results be announced.
Justice Saulawa said the legal confusion was orchestrated by the military and that he acted on the directive of the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice M. Akanbi, by travelling to Kaduna to take control of the appellate court’s registry.
He said appeals filed by NEC were registered and the necessary court processes issued to the parties involved.
He also issued a press statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the appeals before returning to Lagos to brief Justice Akanbi.
Justice Saulawa said the Court of Appeal leadership subsequently held an emergency meeting over the crisis.
He maintained that efforts by the military to interfere with the judiciary were resisted, adding that the June 12 election was eventually annulled by the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.
According to him, the military had engaged in “forum shopping” by obtaining conflicting court orders from different courts.
Justice Saulawa said the judiciary deserved commendation for resisting attempts to interfere with its functions during the crisis.
CJN praises retiring Justice
In her address, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, praised Justice Saulawa for his service and commitment to judicial integrity.
She described him as “a man whose life has been defined by service.”
The CJN recalled an incident from the period when Justice Saulawa was the Presiding Justice of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal.
She said both of them had faced a situation involving an attempt to place personal benefit in the path of judicial duty.
According to Kekere-Ekun, they both rejected the situation and maintained that the integrity of judicial office could not be compromised.
She said the experience strengthened her respect for Justice Saulawa and reflected the values they shared regarding the judicial profession.
The valedictory session was attended by six Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 13 other lawyers.
A representative of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Damien Dodo, SAN, expressed disappointment over the low attendance, attributing it to what he described as miscommunication.
He said the poor turnout did not reflect the stature or contributions of Justice Saulawa, whom he described as a jurist who served the country with “granite integrity.”
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