Judges Not Affected by Police Withdrawal Order — CJN

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has clarified that judicial officers are exempted from the presidential directive ordering the withdrawal of police personnel attached to important personalities.

Justice Kekere-Ekun said the directive, issued as part of efforts to strengthen internal security, did not apply to judges, stressing that the safety of judicial officers remains a priority.

The clarification followed concerns raised by the Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, who alleged that police orderlies attached to judges in the state had been withdrawn.

Justice Agya warned that such a move could expose judges to grave security risks, particularly those presiding over sensitive criminal, political, terrorism and corruption-related cases. He also argued that inadequate security could undermine judicial independence and disrupt the administration of justice.

In a statement issued by the CJN’s media aide, Mr. Tobi Soniyi, the Chief Justice said she was not aware of any withdrawal of police orderlies attached to judges, describing such action as inconsistent with the directive.

“Judges were clearly exempted from the order. Other chief judges across the country have not reported any such incident,” Soniyi said.

Meanwhile, the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Betty Isokpan, denied claims that police personnel attached to judges had been withdrawn.

She explained that the directive affected only personal police escorts assigned to VIPs for private movements, and not officers posted for court duties or assigned to judges’ official residences.

“Every court is expected to have police officers on duty during proceedings. What was withdrawn were personal escorts attached to VIPs, in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s directives,” she said.

The clarification appears to have allayed fears within the judiciary over the implications of the police withdrawal order on judges’ safety and judicial independence.