Attempts to settle out of court in a suit instituted against the National Assembly, Nigeria’s Attorney General and the National Judicial Council NJC seeking a general review of wages for the Nigerian Judges have collapsed.

The court action instituted by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Sebastine Hon could not be amicably settled as proposed on June 6 by the National Assembly for out of court settlement could not bring the parties together for talk.

Read Also: Chief Justice Replies Justices Over Welfare 

Nigeria’s Attorney General who was supposed to be a party to the out of court settlement has filed a counter affidavit and preliminary objection against the suit.

At the Wednesday proceedings, Counsel to the Attorney General, Mr. Ekene Elodimuo confirmed to the National Industrial Court in Abuja that his client (AGF) is desirous of going with the court hearing of the suit and has filed necessary processes.

The National Judicial Council on its part has also engaged the services of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Kunle Adegoke to present its position in the determination of the suit.

At the proceedings counsel to the Plaintiff Mr. Adgboyega Awomolo SAN, who stood for the plaintiff told Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae that the Attorney General had served on him his counter affidavit and preliminary objection indicating that the June 6 proposed out of court settlement has collapsed.

The senior lawyer asked the court to allow him proceed with hearing of the originating Summons of his client.

However counsel to National Judicial Council NJC, Mr. Kunle Adegoke SAN, pleaded with the Judge to grant him a short adjournment to enable him file necessary processes in respect of the matter.

He informed the court that the NJC briefed him in less than 24 hours ago and that he needed time to study the originating summons and file his response.

Counsel for the plaintiff (Awomolo) did not oppose to request for adjournment but however pleaded with the court to allow hearing in the matter on Monday June 27.

In a brief ruling, Justice Obaseki-Osaghae granted the adjournment request by the NJC but fixed June 28 for hearing of the suit.

The proceedings was attended by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Olumide Akpata, Femi Falana SAN, and over 30 Senior Advocates of Nigeria SANs.

Apart from NASS, AGF NJC, other defendant in the suit is Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) but was not represented in court by any legal practitioner.

Plaintiff in the suit, Chief Sebastine Hon SAN who instituted the case is praying the court to compel the defendants (AGF, NJC NASS) to increase the salaries and allowances of Nigerian judges.

According to him, the call is necessary to avoid releasing unrepentant criminals back into the society thereby causing more problems for the people ¬!VEW2AQQ.

The Minister stated this during a meeting of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.

Senator Akume also urged the Presidential committee to do what is required constitutionally in discharging their mandates.

“I would like to use this forum to remind members again that the objective of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, PACPM, is to interview, select and determine convicts and ex-convicts to be granted pardon for onward recommendation to the National Council of State’’ he said.

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami who is the Chairman of the committee said the move is in line with government’s determination to decongest Correctional Centres in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

’’ Following Mr. President’s directive to all stakeholders to ensure the decongestion of Correctional Centres in the wake of COVID-19 Pandemic and the glaring consequent danger posed to the Custodial Centres nationwide’’ he said.

About 320 applications for pardon have been submitted by relatives of some ex-convicts to the committee.

Hauwa Abu

The Attorney General of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami says the All Progressives Congress, APC is on good grounds to conduct its Congresses scheduled for July 31st.

Speaking on behalf of the APC at a press briefing at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, the member representing the Northeast in the Party’s National Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Professor Mamman Tahir said the party sought the advice of the Office of the Attorney General.

This is against the backdrop of people questioning the legitimacy of the APC National Caretaker Committee to conduct Congresses. Professor Tahir said the party will follow what the court says regardless of the fear of the people on the Congress.

“Our Congresses are on course, it will hold tomorrow and this Committee is working closely with the Attorney General of the Federation and he has offered advice in this regard that we are on good grounds and we are comfortable with that position.  So our programmes will continue to roll on in the normal course of things.

“The business of the law is not about speculating what a court will decide in a particular dispute. We deal with what the court have presently decided on. That is the way the law operates. And people can have fear on anything. And whatever decision anybody takes, it will always be subject to litigations. People are free to test the propriety of any decision. You cannot stop anybody, no matter what it is. But we deal with the present at the moment. As I said, we are going on with the decision of the court. That is what we are working with” the Professor said.

Professor Tahir added that they have instructed their members on how to conduct the Congresses therefore they don’t foresee any parallel Congresses holding in any state.

“We have sent our officials from the National secretariat to various state headquarters with forms for people to purchase. And as many people as there are willing to purchase forms, they are free to buy them. So there is no limitation. If there is any one who decide to buy form for some people, it is not against our rules. The most important thing is the electorate and the party members electing their leaders.

“So even in a ward, if 100 people buy form, there is no problem with that. At the end of the day, if they are unable to agree on a consensus which is our preferred choice, genuine consensus where all the stakeholders coming together to agree on who gets what position. If they not able to agree they will now go to congress. And then elect whoever they wish to elect for any particular position. It is very simple” he explained.

According to Professor Tahir, another date has been set for Congresses in Anambra state and Zamfara; “Because we have election coming up in Anambra. We don’t want to jeopardize our position there. Though in Zamfara, only recently, they are still doing their validation and continuation of membership registration. So that is the position, ” he said.

Suzan O