President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for kidnappers to be treated as terrorists, condemning their reprehensible acts during a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal judiciary led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. He reiterated the government’s determination to defeat banditry, describing kidnappers as cowards who target soft targets like schools to cause disaffection. Tinubu pledged to treat kidnappers as terrorists to eradicate them, emphasizing the government's commitment to this goal.
The dinner also included former CJNs, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Justice Walter Onnoghen. Tinubu promised to continue implementing reforms to improve the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers, acknowledging the judiciary's unrewarded responsibilities and slow progress in modernizing equipment and recordkeeping. He expressed a desire for fair compensation for judicial officers after retirement, recognizing the need to benefit all involved parties.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the judiciary for their dedicated service, emphasizing the importance of mutual support to bring Nigeria to a better future. CJN Justice Ariwoola commended Tinubu for hosting the dinner, his commitment to judicial reforms, and for appointing a full complement of 21 justices to the Supreme Court. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, thanked Tinubu for forwarding the executive bill titled "Judicial Office Holders, Salaries and Allowances, etc, Bill 2024" to the National Assembly, praising the President's courage, determination, and compassion in addressing judges' salaries and emoluments since 2007.
