THE alarm raised by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Musa Dattijo, over the absence of justices from the South-East and North-Central regions at the apex court has again highlighted the dysfunction and crisis of confidence in the country’s judiciary. The observation and others made by the jurist should be given quick consideration by the authorities.
Against the background of the acrimonious litigation that attended the 2023 presidential election result, which the Supreme Court recently resolved, it is essential that all the six geo-political zones are represented on the apex bench. Its full complement of 21 justices should be appointed without further delay.
At the valedictory session in his honour, Dattijo lamented that since the justice representing the South-East died over two years ago, he had not been replaced. He said the North-Central was also under-represented. He affirmed, “To ensure justice and transparency in presidential appeals from…