The official quarters of retired Justice Muhammad Dattijo, situated in the Maitama district of Abuja and previously serving as the Supreme Court residence, fell victim to a burglary during the festive season in December 2023.
Reports from NN News Media, yet to be officially confirmed, suggest a thorough looting of the residence, with the burglars allegedly stripping it of its contents.
Sources reveal that the break-in occurred at the Supreme Court justices’ quarters in Maitama, coinciding with the Christmas holidays when Justice Dattijo was abroad.
Having retired from the Supreme Court on October 27, 2023, Justice Dattijo departed with a critique of the apex court, branding it as tainted and plagued by corruption.
In his farewell, he decried the pervasive bribery and distortion of justice within the institution. Furthermore, he expressed concern about the exclusion of two out of the country’s six geopolitical zones from the Supreme Court’s bench for presidential election appeals.
Justice Dattijo criticized the politicization, self-interest, and sectional biases involved in the appointment of judicial officers, asserting that the process unfairly favors the relatives and associates of current and former judges. He lamented the deterioration of the appointment process, emphasizing that appointments should be based on merit, integrity, and hard work, as was the case in the past.
The retired justice highlighted the unsettling trend of unpredictable decisions in recent times, challenging the court’s previously solid and consistent reputation. He echoed sentiments from some members of the legal community who argue that filth and intrigue have infiltrated the judiciary, with judges allegedly forming alliances with political figures.
Recalling a time when appointments to the bench were strictly merit-based, Justice Dattijo expressed his disappointment in the current state of affairs, where lobbying and political influence appear to dictate judicial appointments. He emphasized the need for the judiciary to maintain a high standard of integrity and meritocracy, urging a departure from the present perception of scorn and criticism.
