On Thursday, retired Supreme Court Justice Amina Adamu Augie urged the National Assembly to quickly change the Constitution to improve the efficiency of Nigeria’s courts.
Justice Augie urged the Senate, which is currently led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, to act swiftly in order to do what others had failed to do.
The Supreme Court justice made the plea during her valedictory session on September 3, 2023, after she had reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 and was retiring from the bench.
“This represents the final instance where my voice will be heard in any Court and I wish to utilize this opportunity to directly address the 10th National Assembly, through the Distinguished Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, who was formerly my student at the Law School.
I had the honor of instructing him on the subject of proof, and I have faith in his comprehension.
Therefore, it should be obvious to him that the 10th National Assembly must move quickly to do what its predecessors failed to do: alter the Constitution to improve the efficiency of Nigeria’s courts.
It is my genuine hope that the Justices who come after me do not have to go through what I did. It is believed that a teacher’s reward is in Heaven, and I cannot wait to get there to collect my prize for educating him.
Therefore, I strongly urge the National Assembly to make the required changes to the Constitution.
“In this way, the Court and its Justices will be unencumbered in their pursuit of defending the rule of law, justice, and democracy, as is their constitutionally mandated duty.
When the current scenario is fixed, would I be jealous? No way, no how. To blaze new paths and lead those who lack the desire or strength to do so, the world needs pioneers with strength, zeal, and passion. As Judge Augie put it.
On November 7th, 2016, Amina Augie was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
After earning a degree in law from what is now Obafemi Awolowo University (then known as the University of Ife), she was admitted to practice before the Nigerian Bar in 1978.
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