Senators recommend 80yrs retirement age for Supreme Court justices

Soji-Eze Fagbemi, Abuja - 19.02.2009

Senators at their plenary sitting on Wednesday advocated an increase in the retirement age of serving justices of the Supreme Court from the present 70 years to 80 years.

This is just as they unanimously confirmed the elevation of Justices John Afolabi Fabiyi (North Central) and Olufunlola Oyelola Adekeye (South West) as justices of the Supreme Court.

The call was made by the lawmakers while debating the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the screening of Justices Fabiyi and Adekeye.

The senators, who spoke on the desirability of having additional 10 years added to the present retirement age of the justices of the apex court, believed that the elongation of the retirement age to 80 years would make the nation to benefit more from their wealth of experience.

Like an old wine, the lawmakers agreed that judges mature with age and to increase their retirement age would further improve the quality of judgments delivered at the Supreme Court.

After commending the committee for doing a good job, Senator James Manager said the country and Nigerians stood to gain more if an increment in the judge’s age was considered in the next constitutional amendment to be embarked upon by the National Assembly.

Also contributing to the debate, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze, said “I support the view asking the justices to retire at 80 years, it is a very wise thing.

This will allow us to benefit from the seasoned knowledge that these people have gathered over the years.”

President Umaru Yar’Adua had, in a letter dated January 7, 2009, said the appointment of the two justices was based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and in conformity with Section 231, Sub-Section (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.