In the run up to the last presidential election of the United States of America,when it looked as if the prospects of a black President was looming on thehorizon, the Republican opponents of Barack Obama became utterly desperate. So much so that they insisted on inserting Obama's middle name 'Hussein' in all their campaign advertisements just to scare voters about the danger of handing over the keys to the White House to a moslem and a black one too!! They did not stop there. They dropped the bombshell that once installed, 'Hussein' would marry three more wives and construct a mosque in the inner sanctum of the White House!! Here we are, three and a half years later nothing of the sort has happened.On the contrary, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have been squeaky clean. No hint of scandal anywhere within the White House. Even the room where the President Bill Clinton versus Monica Lewinsky 'Rumble In The Jungle' encounter took place has been turned into a 'Temptation Room' ' whoever feels tempted to go astray can go in there and pray for redemption; or meditate until the temptation goes away!!There is a sign outside the room ' 'NO SMOKING. CIGARS ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.'Besides, Obama's daughters Shasha and Malia are a delight. They are very level headed and exceptionally charming. Very African!!Anyway, this has been a good week for Obama. While still basking in the afterglow of his victory at the Supreme Court where Chief Justice John Roberts ruled (five to four) in favour of Obama's reform of the Health care programme(Obamacare), the President and the First Lady are eager to emphasise that both of them are first and foremost lawyers (although some would insist that Michelle is deliberately understating her superlative credentials and intellect so as not to appear to be competing with her husband).Anyway, they took the press by surprise when both Barack and Michelle walked into the press room to make a statement, not about Obamacare but an event far from the shores of the United States of America.CNN gave it live coverage: 'The First Lady and I wish to congratulate the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on appointing Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar as the first female Chief Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.'We are delighted to quote the former U.S. Consul General to Nigeria, Brian Browne: 'A judge's role is not to be moved by transient political objectives and issues, no matter how tempting. A jurist's responsibility is to divorce herself as much as possible from the political hubbub of the day. She must look at the broad, long-term legal ramifications of government action in order to make a decision consistent with the constitution and legal precedent.'The press gave the President and the First Lady a rare standing ovation. Even when the couple offered to answer questions, the American press borrowed a leaf from the Nigerian Senate and humorously urged Barack and Michelle: 'Take a bow and exit.'Regardless, Al Jazeera went to town with the frontpage headline in the 'Daily Sun' newspaper of July 12, 2012'THERE IS CORRUPTION IN THE JUDICIARY- MUKHTAR FIRST FEMALE CHIEF JUSTICE' Says there's no harm in plea bargain' To be sworn in on MondaySenate recently confirmed Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). While fielding questions from Senators before the confirmation, she admitted that corruption, which has pervaded every segment in Nigeria, is also present in the judiciary.But the new CJN pledged before the Senate to lead by example, in stamping out corruption in the judiciary.There was no single 'nay' against her confirmation in the Senate after facing a barrage of questions from members for over two hours.With her confirmation, Mukhtar made history as the first woman to lead an arm of government in Nigeria.Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu asked Mukhtar for her take on setting up of special courts on corruption and terrorism. Mukhtar replied: 'We can only curb terrorism if there's a law in place. Right now, there's no law on terrorism. Hence, I will say that the ball is in your court and the ball is in the court of the Executive.'Once a law is passed, the Judiciary will make sure that we deal with anyone found guilty of the offence.Corruption is in every system of our society and I can't pretend that it is not in the judiciary. What I intend to do to curb this is to lead by example and hope that others will follow: As Chairman of NJC, I will encourage internal cleansing based on petitions, but that is not to say that I will condone frivolous petitions.Each petition will be looked at on its merit.'In response to a question from the Finance Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi whether plea bargain should be allowed in the judicial system, the CJN answered: 'I believe there's no harm in it if it is done in good faith and in good conscience'.'On whether public officers should declare their assets every year or every four years, Mukhtar said: 'I would have thought that declaring every four years would suffice and should be maintained.'But Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba insisted that the CJN had not sufficiently answered Ekweremadu's question on creation of special courts for corruption and terrorism.The CJN reasoned that, rather than set up special courts, serving justices could be re-deployed to serve in such courts for a fixed number of times.'I heard the idea being mooted on television and my own take is that rather than establishing a court just for that purpose, it would be better if a judge of a court is designated to hear and take these matters.'J.K. Randle, can be reached via jkrandleintuk@gmail.com.
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