Abuja:Retiring Supreme Court judge, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, urged judicial officers to avoid accepting ‘Greek gifts’ from politicians and litigants to maintain the judiciary’s neutrality and impartiality. He issued this warning during a special session at the Supreme Court in Abuja, marking his retirement upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Justice Saulawa emphasized the importance of contentment, integrity, morality, and honesty for judicial officers in performing their duties without bias. He highlighted the temptation of gifts, particularly from politicians, and advised judges to firmly reject such offers to avoid compromising the dispensation of justice.
Justice Saulawa shared an experience from his days on the Magistrate’s Court Bench in Katsina, where he refused a Peugeot 504 Car offered by a prominent fuel and motor dealer, Alhaji Ali Bagobiri. Despite attempts to influence him through the Emir of Katsina and other prominent figures, he declined the gift. Later, the same dealer and his accomplice were found guilty in his court and fined N7,000 each.
He urged judicial officers to resist accepting gifts in their professional duties to prevent compromising their adjudication roles. He also expressed gratitude to his colleagues on the Supreme Court bench for their support and encouraged them to uphold the judiciary’s integrity.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, praised Justice Saulawa for his significant contributions to the judiciary from the High Court in Katsina to the Supreme Court, noting that his firmness would be missed. She celebrated his four-decade-long judicial career, which has influenced generations of legal professionals.
Justice Saulawa, born on September 29, 1956, in Katsina, completed his education in Katsina and obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from Bayero University, Kano. He joined the Nigerian Bar in 1982, was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2006, and to the Supreme Court in 2020. The retirement session was attended by two former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, and other notable judicial stakeholders.