The
former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed has narrated how the
judiciary stood firm as politicians tried to scuttle the 2015
presidential election.
Justice Mahmud Mohammed
Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who retired as the Chief Justice of
Nigeria on Thursday, said the Supreme Court under his watch refused to
be influenced or intimidated by any candidate or political party in
delivering its decisions.
He said the judiciary stood its ground when frustrated politicians
tried to scuttle the 2015 elections. Mohammed retired on Thursday after
attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Thursday, spoke at the
valedictory court session held in his honour at the Supreme Court in
Abuja.
The ex-CJN said he had no apologies for the firm decisions the apex
court took on cases it adjudicated on and praised the Supreme Court for
its determination not to be influenced or intimidated to give decisions
in a particular manner.
He said because of the decision of the judiciary not to be
influenced, it avoided what had happened in 1993 when the then military
government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, had annulled the 1993 presidential
election believed to have been won by the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola,
partly on the grounds that a court order had stopped the election.
The ex-CJN said, “Our nation owes the judiciary a debt of
gratitude for standing firm in the face of contrary winds that
threatened to blow our nation’s democracy off course.
“During the run up to the 2015 elections, our judicial officers
withstood immense pressure in order to guarantee a level playing field
and smooth transition of government, which ensured that we were spared a
re-enactment of the June 12 saga.
“In fact, the courts, thus securing the electoral process,
disallowed so many frivolous matters aimed at truncating the electoral
process.”
The ex-CJN said, “I am proud to be a part of the Supreme Court which refused to be cowered into truncating the electoral process.”
Justice Mohammed, who praised God for sustaining him during his
tenure as the CJN, acknowledged that the judiciary was currently facing
challenges.
He called for a concerted efforts of members of the bar and bench to restore the dwindling reputation of the judicial system.
He urged his successor, Justice Walter Onnoghen not to relent in efforts at ridding the Judiciary of all ills.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice,
Abubakar Malami (SAN), who was represented by the Solicitor General of
the Federation, Taiwo Abidogun, commended the retiring Justice Mohammed,
for his impactful leadership of the Nigerian judiciary.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmoud
(SAN), also said the recent happening in the judiciary should serve as
an opportunity for self cleansing.
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