Minister stresses need for executive, judiciary collaboration

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said
the revitalized collaboration between the Executive and the Judiciary
under the present administration will quicken the dispensation of
justice in the country and ensure there is no hiding place for corrupt
persons.

The minister said this on Saturday night in Abuja at a ceremony to
mark the 80th birthday of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice
Alfa Belgore.

“I want to say that this is a new dawn of collaboration between the
Executive and Judicial Arms of Government. On our own part as
government, we will ensure that we give the Supreme Court, Court of
Appeal and the Federal High Court the full complement of judges,” he
said.

Alhaji Mohammed disclosed that the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Justice Walter Onnoghen, had initiated some reforms with a view to
ensuring better and quicker dispensation of justice.

“I can say here authoritatively that the Acting CJN has initiated some
reforms – even though this has not been officially communicated to
government – that will ensure better dispensation of justice. We are
also aware that the Acting CJN is collaborating with the Executive in
addressing these reforms through legislative and judicial proceedings
processes,” he said.

The Minister said he had known retired Justice Alfa Belgore for over
30 years and described him as a man with an encyclopedic knowledge of
Nigeria.

“One year, I travelled with him from Makka to Medina. We were in the
same car, I think it’s a journey of about four hours but within those
four hours, I learnt more about the history of Nigeria than I had
learnt in any textbook.

“When you see a man like that who has been privileged to have served
Nigeria in many capacities, and who has mentored many people and he is
still alive today, we can all tap from his wealth of experience,’’ he
said.

The Minister represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion,
which was also attended by Senate President Bukola Saraki, retired
Chief Justices of Nigeria Mohammed Lawal Uwais and Mahmud Mohammed,
and former Minister of Defence Theophilus Danjuma, among others.