The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Wednesday, has asked that the judicial arm of government must be left to carryout it’s function without interference.

The head of the Supreme Court who made the call during the ground-breaking ceremony of the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court Complex, pointed that there can be no peace without justice.

According to him, “All the judiciary needs, is to be left to function to perform its role unhindered, as much as possible. Like the President of the Bar said, once you take care of the judiciary, you’ve taken care of justice. If you cry for peace anywhere in the world without justice, that can be no peace.”

The CJN further pledged to ensure the continous dispensation of justice to those deserving, maintaining that peace is assured when justice is served.

“We guarantee peace, we promise to ensure that peace is given to whoever is due, so that we can all enjoy peace. Justice is important and imperative. We promise we will always give justice.”

Ariwoola, while commending the Tinubu-led administration for his support for the judicial arm of government, said the provision of conducive working spaces for judges will not only provide comfort for the judges, but will further contribute to the administration of justice.

“The effort given today, for breaking the ground for the construction of this edifice of five floors of the division, the headquarters remains the headquarters, the division of the court of the appeal does not have to be part of the headquarters, and that is what has happened.

“We will use it well, we assure the minister. The FCT court is also yearning for accommodation of its courts, not only for the Magistrates, the courts too need court rooms and chambers.”

Earlier in his speech, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the President Bola Tinubu, attached so much importance to the welfare of Judiciary staffs towards the effective administration of justice.

Wike who stressed the need for the Judiciary to be properly transformed to enhance the sector, said President Tinubu has graciously approved N30billion out of the N37 billion in the 2024 budget, and promised to deliver the edifice by September 2025 Legal year.

Wike further disclosed that the President has approved 40 houses for the judicial officers. Including 10 houses for Court of Appeal, 20 for FCT High Court and 10 for the Federal High Court, as well as retirement homes for the Presidents.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Latest Olasunkanmi Fagbemi who expressed concern that Judiciary that used to be the hope of common man, has become a thing that only the rich can afford, said the complex will be a place where truth prevails and the rights of the people protected. 

On her part, the President Court of the Appeal Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said the edifice will facilitate smoother dispensation of justice in Nigeria, pointing out that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere in the world. 

Also, President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Wike for begining the complex they had been expecting, 48years after the creation FCT, with 16 past Ministers that never looked in their direction. 

Maikyau who was of the opinion that a people can exist without religion but cannot exist without justice, urged the Court Justices to be like eagles and stay focused in administering justice to the citizens.