Retiring Supreme Court Justice Warns Politicians Against Sending Gifts to Judges
By Fact Harbour News
A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Musa Saulawa, has called on politicians and other influential individuals to stop sending gifts to judicial officers, warning that such gestures could compromise public confidence in the independence of the judiciary.
Saulawa made the remarks on Tuesday during a valedictory court session held in Abuja to mark his retirement from the Supreme Court after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The retired justice specifically mentioned cows, rams and other items that politicians sometimes send to judges, particularly during festive periods. He questioned the appropriateness of such gifts and urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to take steps to address the practice.
Saulawa said judicial officers should maintain strong ethical standards and avoid situations that could create the impression that gifts are being used to influence judicial decisions.
He described such presents as potentially problematic because they can create obligations or perceptions of favour, even where the recipient does not intend to compromise his or her responsibilities.
The retired jurist also shared a personal experience from his earlier judicial career to illustrate his position.
According to Saulawa, an influential businessman once offered him a Peugeot vehicle while he was serving on the Magistrate’s Court Bench in Katsina. He said he rejected the vehicle despite attempts by prominent individuals to persuade him to accept it.
Saulawa said the businessman subsequently became involved in a criminal case before him. He maintained that his earlier refusal of the gift allowed him to approach the case without any obligation arising from the rejected offer.
He used the experience to encourage judicial officers to remain firm whenever individuals attempt to offer them gifts that could compromise or appear to compromise their independence.
The retiring justice also urged judges to uphold integrity, honesty and morality throughout their careers, stressing that the credibility of the judicial system depends significantly on the conduct of those entrusted with interpreting and enforcing the law.
His comments came during a ceremony celebrating more than four decades of service in the Nigerian judiciary.
Saulawa began his judicial career in Katsina before progressing through different levels of the judiciary, eventually serving at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in her remarks at the valedictory session, praised Saulawa for his contribution to the judiciary and described him as a judicial officer whose career had been defined by service and principle.
The CJN recalled working with Saulawa during his time as Presiding Justice of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal. She referred to an occasion when both of them were confronted with a situation involving an attempt to introduce personal benefit into the discharge of judicial responsibilities.
According to Kekere-Ekun, they maintained the position that judicial integrity could not be compromised and that even the appearance of impropriety should be avoided.
She said Saulawa’s commitment to those principles had contributed to the respect he earned during his judicial career.
The retiring justice also reflected on Nigeria’s political and judicial history, including the events surrounding the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Saulawa recalled that he was serving as Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal during the crisis and became involved in managing conflicting court processes relating to the election.
He said different courts had issued conflicting orders concerning the conduct and announcement of the election results, creating a serious legal and institutional challenge.
According to his account, he travelled to Kaduna after receiving instructions from the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice M. Akanbi, and took steps to ensure that appeals relating to the dispute were properly registered and processed.
Saulawa maintained that the judiciary resisted attempts by the military authorities at the time to interfere with the courts.
He argued that the events surrounding the June 12 crisis demonstrated the importance of protecting the independence of judicial institutions, particularly during periods of political uncertainty.
The retiring justice urged his colleagues on the Supreme Court bench to continue protecting the reputation and independence of the judiciary.
His valedictory session marked the end of a judicial career spanning more than 40 years and covering several levels of Nigeria’s justice system.
The central message from his farewell address was the need for judicial officers to remain independent and avoid relationships or transactions that could undermine confidence in their decisions.
The remarks have also renewed attention on ethical standards within Nigeria’s judiciary and the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between judicial officers, politicians, litigants and other influential individuals.
For the judiciary, maintaining public confidence requires not only impartial judgments but also conduct that leaves little room for reasonable doubts about the independence of judicial officers.
