Following the swearing-in of Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, rights lawyer and one-time President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba has taken a swipe at what he termed “yet another ritual of handing over of the Judicial baton.”
Speaking with Law & Society Magazine, Agbakoba said:” It’s not about swearing in!! It’s about whether we will see radical reforms finally.
“The last great reform CJN was the Late Dahiru Musdapher!!! I was his consultant on Speed of Justice. Unfortunately CJN Musdapher only had six months in office. He set up a high powered 29 person committee that produced a transformational report.
“The Late CJN led a team to the then president of the senate, David Mark, to present far reaching reforms to the constitutional structure of the Judiciary. As soon as the CJN turned his back everyone forgot about it !!!
“The legacy of potential legacy of the new CJN is transformational and radical reform with the fundamental objective of case management driving how the courts work
“We are witnessing yet another ritual of handing over of the Judicial baton with the swearing in of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. But it’s not about swearing in!!”
