Retiring Supreme Court Justice Ibrahim Saulawa has warned judicial officers against accepting gifts from politicians, describing them as "Greek gifts" that can compromise their neutrality and impartiality. Speaking during a special court session in Abuja to mark his retirement, Saulawa emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and morality in the judiciary. He noted that gifts from politicians can be tempting, but judges must be firm in rejecting them to avoid falling into traps in the dispensation of justice.
Justice Saulawa shared a personal anecdote about rejecting a gift from a prominent fuel and motor dealer, Alhaji Ali Bagobiri, who offered him a Peugeot 504 Car while he was on the Magistrate's Court Bench in Katsina. Despite the dealer's efforts to persuade him, including seeking the intervention of the Emir and prominent indigenes, Saulawa refused the gift. He later found the dealer and his accomplice guilty and sentenced them to a N7,000 fine each for running foul of the law.
The retiring justice charged judicial officers to imbibe a culture of contentment, integrity, morality, and honesty to discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour. He praised his fellow justices on the Supreme Court bench for their love, affection, and shared experience, encouraging them to continue protecting the integrity of the judiciary. Saulawa's career spanned over four decades, traversing virtually every level of the Nigerian judiciary.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, commended Saulawa for his contributions to the development of the judiciary, from the High Court in Katsina to the Supreme Court. She noted that his firmness and dedication would be greatly missed on the apex court bench. Kekere-Ekun reiterated that the judiciary would continue to celebrate the values that have characterised Saulawa's journey and example.
Justice Saulawa was born on September 29, 1956, in Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria. He began his educational journey in Katsina and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Bayero University, Kano, in 1981. He was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 2, 1982, and elevated to the Court of Appeal on June 10, 2006. His services culminated in his elevation to the Supreme Court on November 10, 2020.
The special court session was attended by two former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed and Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as well as the Deputy Governor of Katsina state and eminent stakeholders in the judiciary sector. The session marked Saulawa's retirement from the apex court's Bench upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
Justice Saulawa's retirement marks the end of an era, but his legacy and contributions to the judiciary will continue to inspire future generations of judicial officers and members of the legal profession. His warning to judicial officers against accepting gifts from politicians serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity and impartiality in the judiciary.
Key points
- Retiring Supreme Court Justice Ibrahim Saulawa warns judicial officers against accepting gifts from politicians.
- Saulawa shares personal anecdote about rejecting a gift from a prominent fuel and motor dealer.
- The judiciary must maintain integrity and impartiality to dispense justice without fear or favour.
