Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Explains Why the Judiciary Seems to Have Collapsed

Justice Amina Augie, the sixth female justice of the Supreme Court, retired on September 22, 2023, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Known for her incisive and analytical judgments, she has been highly praised by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. At a recent event hosted by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Justice Augie expressed concerns about the perceived collapse of the judiciary. She shared harrowing experiences from her tenure, including threats from her own staff while serving as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal in Lagos.

Justice Augie recounted an incident where her staff threatened to kill her after she attempted to enforce discipline and integrity within her office. Despite these threats, she took decisive action by investigating and documenting the misconduct, leading to the transfer of several staff members who had been entrenched in their positions for decades. Her efforts were supported by higher judicial authorities, including the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, both of whom were also women.

In her remarks, Justice Augie explains the seeming collapse of the judiciary saying that it is the infiltration of the judiciary by individuals without the necessary passion or training; people often placed in their positions through political connections. She stressed the need for comprehensive justice sector reforms, emphasizing the importance of leadership, accountability, and proper training for judicial officers and staff. Augie argued for the establishment of specialized judicial training institutions to ensure that future judges and court staff are adequately prepared for their roles from an early age.

She highlighted the critical role of the judiciary staff in the functioning of the court system, pointing out that their actions significantly impact the efficiency and integrity of the judiciary. Augie noted that the judiciary's challenges are compounded by the influence of godfathers and the strategic placement of individuals by politicians to manipulate the judicial process.

Furthermore, she criticized the current system for overworking the courts due to the requirements for lawyers to achieve the status of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which necessitates a high number of cases at various court levels. This, she said, has led to an unnecessary backlog of cases, overwhelming the judiciary.

Justice Augie called for a paradigm shift in the judicial sector, advocating for a robust training regimen and reforms to instill discipline and professionalism. She emphasized that such reforms are essential not only for the judiciary but for the broader development of Nigeria's governance and legal framework. Her impassioned plea underscores the urgent need for systemic change to restore the judiciary's integrity and effectiveness.