•CJN, AGF, others pay hail her
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The National Assembly has been told to swiftly complete work on amendments in the constitution to enhance the functioning of courts in Nigeria.
Justice Amina Augie (retd) of the Supreme Court, made the call in her speech at a valedictory court session held in her honour in Abuja, yesterday.
She retired officially from the apex court bench after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
She said the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led Senate should take decisive action to accomplish what others could not achieve.
“This marks the final instance where my voice will be heard in any court, and I wish to use this opportunity to directly address the 10th National Assembly, through the distinguished Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who was once my student at the law school.
“By doing so, this court and its justices can be free from the constraints that impede their ability to fulfill their mandate of upholding the rule of law, justice, and democracy.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola, earlier in his speech described Augie as an affable jurist who diligently and meticulously offered unquantifiable services to Nigeria and humanity.
He said the amiable disposition and reticent outlook of Augie literally made her a gentle tigress in the temple of justice.
“She made herself a pliable legal personality that diligently sunk a pool of enduring legal knowledge and experience in all her judicial pronouncements.
“She has variously exhibited rare qualities and tenacity of strength and character to the admiration of her colleagues and admirers, especially when it comes to the administration of justice. She has been a formidable ally, an admirable pillar of support and indeed, a jolly good fellow to all of us”, Ariwoola added.
Justice Amina Augie was sworn in as Justice of the Supreme Court on November 7, 2016.
She graduated with a Second Class Upper Division in Law from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1977 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, in his speech said that Augie’s judgments have greatly enriched the country’s jurisprudence.
Similarly, the President, Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau, gave eloquent testimonies of the contributions of the retired jurist.
He described her as a rare gem who largely succeeded in imprinting her name in gold in the annal of administration and adjudication of Justice in Nigeria.
On November 7, 2016, Justice Augie was appointed as a justice to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
While such appointments are typically celebrated without much fanfare, Augie’s held special significance.
She broke barriers by becoming the sixth woman to serve in this esteemed role.
Her appointment was a milestone for Nigerian women, challenging traditional gender roles and paving the way for others to ascend to influential positions within the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has extolled the virtues of Justice Augie, describing her as an affable jurist who diligently and meticulously offered unquantifiable services to Nigeria and humanity in different capacities for several decades.
Speaking at the valedictory court session in her honour, the CJN said her amiable disposition and reticent outlook literally made her a “gentle tigress in the temple of justice.”
According to the CJN, Justice Augie made herself a pliable legal personality that diligently sunk a pool of enduring legal knowledge and experience in all her judicial pronouncements.
She has variously exhibited rare qualities and tenacity of strength and character to the admiration of her colleagues and admirers, especially when it comes to the administration of justice.
“She has been a formidable ally, an admirable pillar of support and indeed, a jolly good fellow to all of us” Justice Ariwoola stated.
Speaking in similar eulogy was the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, who applauded her sound judgments which he said greatly enriched the country’s jurisprudence.
In his own speech, the President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau SAN, gave eloquent testimonies of the contributions of the retired jurist, describing her as a “rare gem” who largely succeeded in imprinting her name in gold in the annal of administration and adjudication of Justice in Nigeria.
Justice Amina’s retirement has further depleted the number of Justices of the apex court to an all time low.
Before now, the number of justices of the court had unprecedentedly rose to 20 in November 2020, after President Muhammadu Buhari approved the elevation of eight justices at a go. Their appointment had sparked hope that the apex court would for the first time in history, attain the full complement of 22 justices as prescribed by Section 230 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
However, with the death of Justice Sylvester Ngwuta on March 7, 2021, about 23 days before his retirement, and the retirement of Justice Rhodes-Vivour 14 days later, only 18 Justice were left on the apex court bench. Before their replacements could be appointed, Justice Samuel Oseji died in September 2021, aged 67, less than a year after his appointment to the Supreme Court.
Section 234 of the Constitution mandates the Supreme Court to hear cases in a panel of 5 or 7 justices.