Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen has warned that unless the Supreme Court is adequately funded, it might soon, at best, end up as a glorified high court.
He lamented that justices of the apex court had been suffering in silence since 2008 when their salaries and emoluments were last reviewed by the Federal Government.
Onnoghen, who spoke yesterday, in Abuja, at the public presentation of Nigeria’s first book on Construction Law, regretted that some justices of the apex court still live in rented apartments in unsuitable areas within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Besides parlous residences, the ex-CJN clarified that the chambers of the judges were unbefitting of their status. He, therefore, appealed that the court be properly funded and a conducive environment provided to enable the justices to perform optimally.
The Cross River State native recalled that while in office, he headed a team, comprising the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Solicitor General of the Federation, which prepared a new welfare scheme on the order of government.
He decried that since his exit, the Welfare Scheme Report, which would have enhanced the condition of service of the jurists, had been jettisoned.
Onnoghen, consequently, pleaded that funding of the judiciary should be immediately looked into with a view to improving the arm of government due to its critical role in nation-building.
He commended the author, Ewuwuni Onnoghen-Theophilus, urging that youths should be encouraged to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.
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