The federal government will not tolerate the subversion of the democratically elected government under whatever guise, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has warned.

Mr Fagbemi gave the warning at a valedictory court session in honour of the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who retired on Thursday, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

The minister noted that the present administration has a clear mandate of the people and can only be changed at the end of its tenure as prescribed by the constitution.

He said any other mode or attempt to change a democratically elected government except by the constitution is a clear case of treason and subversion of democratic governance.

“The laws of the land have made copious provisions on how to deal with treasonable acts. Therefore, the full wrath of the law will catch up with such a treasonable felony.

“The government will promote and uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens, but no breach of same rights by any person or organisation under any guise except as stipulated by the constitution would be accepted,” said Mr Fagbemi.

He reassured that the federal government is irrevocably committed to massively changing the course of narratives within the country’s justice sector.

“With the massive turnaround being put in place by the present administration, the justice sector will be given a place of pride it deserves.

“The federal government will eradicate all forms of obstacles militating against the modernisation, effectiveness and efficiency of the justice sector.

“Remember the recent 300 per cent salary increment for judicial officers; these efforts of the government will enhance and promote the judiciary as the last hope of the common man,’” the minister said.

Mr Fagbemi thanked the Supreme Court for rescuing local governments in Nigeria from the claws of governors.

He called on the attorneys general of states to advise their various governors to obey the apex court’s judgment on the financial autonomy of local government areas in Nigeria.

Mr Ariwoola, in his speech, called for measures to be put in place to reduce the backlog of cases at the Supreme Court.

He noted that too many cases before the apex court ought to have terminated at the appellate court.

Mr Ariwoola also stressed the need for the bench to have more judicial officers to adjudicate on all matters timeously.

“Access to justice has contributed largely to the delay in the hearing of cases as litigants and lawyers are forced to wait for several years to have their cases decided,” he said.

Mr Ariwoola was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011. He was a justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 after having been elevated from the Oyo State High Court.

(NAN)