Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, the administrator of National Judicial Institute, is a man of restraint who upholds dignity and integrity as moral principles. A man concerned with the continued integrity of the bench and the Nigerian justice system, he is also passionate about all things that have to do with the needs of open justice in the country. Nowhere can he get opportunity to make his impact felt in these two areas than this respected Institute. No wonder he resigned from office in 2021, as Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. to take up the National Judicial Institute’s appointment.
The Senate confirmed Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi as Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, just some weeks before his resignation. The confirmation at the senate had followed consideration of a report by the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
At that time, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said Abdullahi demonstrated sufficient knowledge and full grasp of the law in response to questions put to him on the Independence of the Judiciary; Automation of Court Proceedings; Reform in the Justice Sector; Rule of Law and Compliance with the Provisions of the Constitution, among other legal/jurisprudential issues.
He stressed the appointment of the nominee satisfied the requirements of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Senate Standing Orders, 2015 as amended.
Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi has a wide range of experience, comportment, exposure and possesses the requisite leadership qualities of a Judicial Officer to effectively superintend over a court of such magnitude and complexity and can exercise restraint and uphold the dignity of the High Court of the FCT, Abuja and the litigants in the discharge of his official functions,” Bamidele said, adding there was no petition or adverse report against the nominee.
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier on requested the Senate to confirm the nominee as substantive Chief Judge of the FCT High Court. According to Buhari, the request was made pursuant to Section 256 subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Abdullahi was appointed as the Acting Chief Judge of the FCT High Court on 6th January, 2021; a position he held until his nomination for appointment by President Buhari.
Garba Abdulahi was appointed acting chief judge of the FCT high court in January, after his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari. In April, his nomination as substantive chief judge was confirmed by the senate, and he was subsequently sworn in on July 7. But then he resigned to take up appointment with the institute which takes effect from 1st August 2021 is for three years, from the date of appointment. Of course, he would have been due to retire by October 10th last year, when he would have attained the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.
And at the National Judicial Institute, he has been working tirelessly to enhance the depth of Nigerian bench. Welcoming participants to the Opening Ceremony of the 2021 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts, held at the Andrews Otutu Obaseki Auditorium, National Judicial Institute, Abuja, on 19th November, 2021, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, delivered a powerful message as the Administrator of The National Judicial Institute (NJI).
The All Nigeria Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts is held biennially by the National Judicial Institute, to fulfil its mandate of providing qualitative continuing judicial education for all categories of Judicial Officers and their Supporting Staff. And it draws Judges and Justices from the Nation’s Superior Courts to associate with one another, exchange ideas and best practices while discussing critical issues affecting the dispensation of justice in Nigeria.
And many see the biennial conference as a stock taking event for Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of Record, for the Conference draws upon experiences from Judicial Officers who attend from all over the country as they converge to reflect upon the activities of the Judiciary with the benefit of hindsight. The end result of this remains the development of strategies, policies and best practices that will improve upon the dispensation of justice in Nigeria
The theme of that conference, was “Promoting Judicial Excellence in the Administration of Justice” which the learned judge described as being timely, considering the role of the Judiciary towards stabilizing our democracy. He said the importance of that role was no more evident than in the provision of Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other provisions of Chapter VII of the grundnorm, which clothes judges with wide ranging powers. He added that constitutional powers similarly thrusts on the Judges a sobering amount of responsibility to fairly, justly, judiciously and impartially exercise Judicial Powers.
About the Conference Hon. Justice Abdullahi disclosed. “Since the establishment of the National Judicial Institute in 1991, the hosting of the All Nigeria Judges Conference has served to remind Judicial Officers of their crucial role in the society. More than ever, the Judiciary is perhaps faced with the need to balance conflicting interests with a bid to ensuring a stable polity. More than ever, lady Justice needs to balance the scale of justice so as to ensure that Nigeria fulfils its true potential as Africa’s Giant. I believe that the Conference will contribute in no small measure to promoting the role of the Judiciary as the Third arm of Government.”
Speaking further he said, it was indeed worth reiterating that the Judiciary, as an arbiter, had an important role to play, by ensuring speedy resolution of disputes, emphasizing that the speedy resolution of disputes; and particularly financial and/or commercial disputes; remains an economic development catalyst, as investors and other financial institutions will remain confident that their investments are safe.
“This puts us on the frontline in providing confidence for citizens and foreign partners through a scrupulous, fearless interpretation of the law and Statutes that govern the subject matter of our Jurisdictions. By synergising together over the next few days, we will acquire new knowledge that will better equip us to fulfil our constitutional mandate.”
He said the institute would continue to foster quality discourse, in line with its statutory mandate to train and retrain Judicial Officers. He pointed out that that was not new, as the Institute had collaborated with other Arms of Government to identify issues and Legislations or guidelines that are likely come before our Courts. The National Judicial Institute and the PTDF recently held a collaborative workshop to enable Judicial Officers to understand the new Petroleum Industry Act and its impact on justice delivery. This is indicative of the Institute’s many workshops all geared towards sharpening the skill sets of Judicial Officers and Support Staff and ensuring a modern, speedy and efficient administration of Justice.
“The Institute proactively identify the training needs of Judicial Officers and Staff. It continues to engage with the Nation’s Judges in Seminars and workshops, which are aimed at building their capacity and expanding their knowledge in all fields based on training needs that National Judicial Institute has identified. Conferences of this nature therefore provide an invaluable forum for discussions on existing thorny issues which could help facilitate the better understanding and appreciation of the judicial process.”
He informed the gathering that the Institute took step to drum technology into the consciousness of judicial officers. And this has enabled the institute to engage Judicial Officers positively and aid their transition to a technology based system with suitable online or remote alternatives to physical hearings. “The upshot of this policy is to operate a digital system that embraces multiple dispute resolution methods that are not only physical but also virtual. Naturally, we will need in all this to safeguard the needs of open justice but I am confident that this is perfectly feasible.”
Since he made his entry last year at the NJI , after many very eventful years at the bench, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, deserves to hold his head very high as an administrator of the institute. As he is quietly making the NJI well placed to play a pivotal role in deepening knowledge for judicial officers, enhancing judicial integrity and building public trust in the institution of justice and democracy, his time at this hallowed institute will surely go down as one of the most consequential tenures in the leadership of the National Judicial Institute.
