THE all-inclusive reforms of the justice sector promised by the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, is taking off today with the stakeholders' maiden meeting scheduled for the Supreme Court complex in Abuja.Nigerian Tribune can also disclose that many of those expected at the meeting were already in town as of Thursday evening with some of them lodged at the Sheraton and Transcorp hotels.Those that came into Abuja for today's maiden meeting included the widely-respected retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Kayode Esho; former national presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and J.T Okpoko, SAN.Esho may head the reforms' panel.The 85-year old jurist had chaired a similar panel in the past which made far-reaching decisions on alleged rot in the sector that sanitised the system then.Widespread allegations of corruption in high places in the sector hallmarked by alleged sleaze involving both the immediate past CJN, Aloysius Katsina-Alu and suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Isa Ayo Salami, triggered the current reforms promised by Katsina-Alu's successor-in-office.Though the Nigerian Tribune could not ascertain the numerical strength of the panel, it could confirm the membership of another retired justice of the apex court, Justice Adol-phous Karibi-Whyte; incumbent president of the NBA, Joseph Babatunde Daudu, among others.It was also learnt that all the living former Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN) and living former presidents of the Court of Appeal are also members of the panel.The exclusive list, according to a source, might exclude Katsina-Alu and Salami, due to their involvement in the crisis that led to the convocation of the meeting.It was also learnt that Musdapher may have also excused himself from the panel, in order to make it truly independent.His involvement in the crisis of confidence between Katsina-Alu and Salami might have also contributed to his decision not to be a part of the proceedings.A source told the Nigerian Tribune that the panel might not do much today, but would set a template for the issues to be considered and how to go about them.It was gathered that all issues currently making the headlines in the sector would also be considered by the panel.Some of the issues said to be on the card for consideration included the suspension of Salami, as well as creation of special courts for prosecution of corruption cases, in which the anti-corruption agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), would participate actively.Other issues that may engage the panel are the planned unbundling of the NJC, which could see the enlargement of its membership from its current 24 members and divestment of its powers to sanction judges for misconduct.Nigerian Tribune further learnt that if the power was eventually retained in the council, member of the NBA on the council, who are currently precluded by the 1999 Constitution from participating in the procedure, might be recommended for future participation.
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