Court strips Jonathan of powers to okay Judges’ salaries

ABUJA – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Monday, held that in line with 81(2) and section 84(1), (2), (3), (4) and (7) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the President, has no power to approve funds for the remuneration, salaries, allowances and recurrent expenditures of the judiciary.

The Court maintained that such funds are constitutionally guaranteed charges (or “First Charge”) on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation.

Delivering judgment in a suit that was filed by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, directed that henceforth, funds belonging to the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund should be released to the National Judicial Council, NJC, in full, for disbursement for the needs of the various courts across the federation.