The former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday called for a constitutional amendment to reduce appeals to the Supreme Court.
The immediate past CJN made the call in his speech during a valedictory session organised for his exit from the bench.
Mohammed said the volume of appeals filed in the apex court was overwhelming.
“Permit me to re-iterate my comments made during the opening of the 2016-2017 Legal Year when I opined that our Supreme Court is arguably the most overworked in the world.
“In the 2014-2015 Legal Year, the Supreme Court heard 1,578 matters, consisting of 1,000 motions and 569 substantive appeals, delivering 262 judgments.
“In 2015-2016 Legal Year, the court heard 1,489 matters, consisting of 908 motions and 581 substantive appeals, delivering 268 judgments in that period,’’ he said.
He further said a total of 500 new appeals were filed in the Registry of the court in the 2015-2016 legal year.
“This figure shows that nearly ten appeals were filed per week, most of which were interlocutory in nature.
“Similarly, there were more than 5,000 outstanding appeals some of which have become academic in nature.
“The log-jams are the result of a free-for-all appeals process, which has been given the imprimatur of our constitution. It was obvious that urgent action was required,’’ he said.
As an interim measure, the out-gone CJN said the court had taken measure to constitute a second panel to sit on Wednesdays in-addition to the normal sitting in Chamber slated for the same days.
“This additional Panel was a first in the history of the court and has certainly had a significant impact on the case disposal rate of the court.
“I will not take full credit for this success, as My Brother Justices rose to the challenge, but I recognise that this was a necessary response to the yearnings of all Nigerians for justice,’’ Mohammed said.
Besides, Mohammed said the country owed the judiciary a debt of gratitude for standing firm in the face of contrary winds that threatened to blow Nigeria’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.
“This ensured that we were speared 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.
“I must particularly commend the Supreme Court for refusing to be intimidated or influenced by any candidates or political parties, and I make no apologies for the firm stand that we took in our decisions,’’ he said.
On alleged corruption rocking the judiciary, Mohammed said he had tried to use the power bestowed on him as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to restore the integrity of the judiciary.
“As Chairman of the National Judicial Council, I was greatly concerned about the integrity of our judicial institution.
“I was particularly keen to ensure that the judiciary was properly positioned, both institutionally and ethically, to effectively play its role as valuable partner in good governance and the fight against corruption,’’ he said.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), said the out-gone CJN would be remembered not just for his judicial pronouncements.
According to him, Mohammed will also be remembered as CJN who spear-headed some of the most innovative reforms in the judiciary.
The immediate past CJN was born in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, on November 10, 1946.
He had his early elementary education at Mallam Kasimu Koranic School and Jalingo Primary School between 1950 and 1956.
He completed his primary education at the Senior Primary School, Jalingo, between 1957 and 1959.
The out-gone CJN studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, between 1967 and 1970, and was at the Nigerian Law School between 1970 and 1971.