On Monday, 3rd February, 2020, the Supreme Court held a Valedictory Session in honour of Hon. Justice Amiru Sanusi who retired recently from the Supreme Court. The retirement of the His Lordship further depleted the number of the Justices of the Supreme Court to 13.
Notably, the Constitutional limit for the number of Justices who can be appointed into the Apex Court is 21. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, during his speech at the Valedictory Session decried the workload of the Justices and the fact that the Supreme Court is grossly understaffed.
In a Country where the wheels of justice are notoriously slow, especially at the Supreme Court, one begins to wonder why the Supreme Court cannot have the maximum number of 21 Justices as stipulated in the Constitution.
Is it possible that among the numerous Justices of the Court of Appeal none has been found worthy to be elevated to fill the vacancies at the Supreme Court? Is it possible that among the many erudite Senior Advocates of Nigeria none can be appointed to the Supreme Court? If the Supreme Court is grossly understaffed how do we expect justice to be dispensed speedily and with sound quality judgments?
The rational thing the NJC, Executive and the Legislature can do in the circumstances is to work together to increase the number of Justices at the Supreme Court as quickly as possible.
Elo Adhekpukoli writes as Coordinator of Law Reform Think-Tank
