Judges Exempted From Police Withdrawal Order --------- CJN
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, says that the presidential directive on the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Personalities, VIPs,as part of measures to combat rising insecurity does not affect judges in the country.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, says that the presidential directive on the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Personalities, VIPs,as part of measures to combat rising insecurity does not affect judges in the country.
However, some VIPs have, had their police orderlies withdrawn following the directive.
The Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, had on Tuesday stated that police orderlies attached to judges in the state had been withdrawn, warning that the development posed significant security risk on the law officers.
The media aide to the CJN, Tobi Soniyi, who spoke emphasized, however, that the directive does not affect judges.
Soniyi explained that judges and governors had earlier been exempted from the directive, following recognition of their legal entitlement to police protection, regretting that despite this exemption, police orderlies assigned to judicial officers across Taraba were withdrawn on December 8 without prior notice.
Justice Agya's words, "Firstly, it is a threat to judges’ security and personal safety, as judges handling sensitive criminal, political, terrorism and corruption cases are exposed to high risk.
“Secondly, it undermines judicial independence. Judicial independence is not only the absence of interference but also protection from intimidation.
Justice Agya's words, "Firstly, it is a threat to judges’ security and personal safety, as judges handling sensitive criminal, political, terrorism and corruption cases are exposed to high risk.
“Secondly, it undermines judicial independence. Judicial independence is not only the absence of interference but also protection from intimidation.
"Without orderlies, courtrooms can become unsafe, and proceedings may be disrupted."
But, reacting to the Chief Judge's complaint, Soniyi said he was not aware that the police orderlies attached to judges had been withdrawn, wondering why such action would be taken since judges were exempted from the directive.
But, reacting to the Chief Judge's complaint, Soniyi said he was not aware that the police orderlies attached to judges had been withdrawn, wondering why such action would be taken since judges were exempted from the directive.
According to Soniyi, other judges had yet to complain that their orderlies had been withdrawn. “Other chief judges have not said so,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Police Commissioner, Betty Isokpan, responding to Justice Agya's complaints said that court orderlies had not been withdrawn,
explaining that the policy affected only personal police escorts and guards, not officers assigned to court duties or posted to judges’ residences.
“Every court is expected to have a court duty police officer who stays during proceedings. We have only withdrawn police escorts who accompany VIPs to places like Sokoto, Lagos and Kaduna, in compliance with the Inspector General’s directives,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Police Commissioner, Betty Isokpan, responding to Justice Agya's complaints said that court orderlies had not been withdrawn,
explaining that the policy affected only personal police escorts and guards, not officers assigned to court duties or posted to judges’ residences.
“Every court is expected to have a court duty police officer who stays during proceedings. We have only withdrawn police escorts who accompany VIPs to places like Sokoto, Lagos and Kaduna, in compliance with the Inspector General’s directives,” she said.
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