Retiring Justice Dattijo Muhammad says non-representation of the South-East and North-Central in the Supreme Court Bench is dangerous to equitable justice delivery in Nigeria.
He said this while making his farewell address at a valedictory court session held by the Supreme Court to mark his retirement from the apex court bench, having attained the statutory retirement age of 70 years.
The Niger State-born Jurist who spent 43 years in the judiciary, noted that with his retirement, Justices on the bench of the apex court had reduced to 10, with two regions of the country not represented.
With the bowing out of Justice Datijo, only four geo-political regions, the South-West, South-South, North-West, and North-East are represented in the Supreme Court.
The South-South and North-East have two serving Justices, while the North-West and South-West are fully represented with three Jurists each.
Dottijo said, “to ensure justice and transparency in appeals from the lower court, all geo-political zones are required to participate in the hearing.
“It is therefore dangerous for democracy and equity for two entire regions to be left out in the decisions that will affect the generality of Nigerians.”
The retired jurist noted that since November 6, 2020, when the Supreme Court, in its history, got a full complement of 21, following the swearing in of 8 Justices.
“This is not what our laws envisage.
“Although it can be posited that no one expected the sudden passing of Justice Centus Nweze, on July 29, 2023, yet, it has been two years and seven months since Sylvanus Ngwuta, another Justice from the South East died and no appointment was made,” Justice Datijo stated.
According to the retired Justice, “appropriate steps could have been taken since to fill outstanding vacancies in the apex court.”
“Why have these steps not been timeously taken?,” he asked.
The retires justice said; “We are in an election season where the Election Tribunals and appellate courts are inundated with all manner of petitions and appeals.
“The Supreme Court is the final court in the Presidential, Governorship, and National Assembly election appeals.
“Yet, there are only 10 justices left to determine these matters.”
VON