The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has clarified that the presidential directive ordering the withdrawal of police personnel attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) does not affect judges across the country.
The clarification was issued on Saturday through the CJN’s media aide, Mr Tobi Soniyi, following growing concerns within the judiciary over reported removal of police orderlies assigned to some judicial officers.
The statement came after the Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, raised alarm that police officers attached to judges in the state had been withdrawn without prior notice, describing the development as a serious security threat.
Justice Agya said judges, like governors, were expressly exempted from the presidential order, given their statutory right to police protection. He noted, however, that security details attached to judicial officers in Taraba were removed on December 8.
“Removing security from judges handling sensitive criminal, political, terrorism and corruption cases exposes them to grave danger,” he warned.
He added that the absence of security could undermine judicial independence, stressing that judges must be protected from intimidation and threats to ensure the effective administration of justice.
“Judicial independence is not only about freedom from interference; it also requires adequate protection for judges. Without security, courtrooms may become unsafe and proceedings disrupted,” Agya said.
Responding, Soniyi said the office of the CJN was unaware of any directive authorising the withdrawal of police orderlies from judges, noting that such action would contradict existing exemptions.
He added that no similar complaints had been received from other states, raising questions over why judicial officers in Taraba would be affected.
The CJN’s office reaffirmed that judges remain entitled to police protection and that the presidential security withdrawal order does not extend to the judiciary.
