No human being can influence judgments of the Supreme Court, acting CJN boasts

The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has said that no humn being, dead or alive can influence judgments of the Supreme Court.

The acting CJN, according to a statement on Thursday by the Director of Press and Information at the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, stated this when a delegation of the management of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, led by its Chairman, Dr. Muiz Banire, visited in Abuja.

Other Justices of the Supreme Court, who joined the acting CJN to receive the AMCON delegation were Justices Olukayode Ariwoola, Kekere-Ekun, Musa Dattijo, Ejembi Eko and Uwani Abba-Aji.

Justice Muhammad, according to the statement, informed his visitors that the Supreme Court Justices were independent-minded and were only answerable to their conscience and God while writing and delivering judgments.

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“We take our time in taking notes and writing judgments to avoid making mistakes.

“We subject every case before us to intense debates and arguments during our conferences in order to be as dispassionate and objective as possible.

“Let me state clearly that we are not answerable to anybody and can never be intimidated by anybody whatsoever in taking our decisions.

“But for certain, we are only answerable to God Almighty because he is the owner of our lives. No human being, living or dead can influence the reasoning or judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“We are very independent in Supreme Court because of the enormity of the trust and responsibility reposed in us by the almighty God, the Constitution and our dear nation.”

In his address, the AMCON Chairman, Banire, said the corporation, since its establishment in 2010, had acquired over 120,000 loans from 23 banks totaling N3.8trn.

He added that additional N2.2trn was paid as financial accommodation for the then ailing banks.

“The total current exposure, as of April 30, 2019, is N4.19 trn, with an excess of 7,000 outstanding obligors,” he said, adding that “top 350 obligors” account for 82 per cent of the outstanding loans of N4.19 trn.

 

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