” Hails Tinubu on appointment of Kekere-Ekun as CJN

By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A former Grand Kadi, Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Idris Abdullahi Haroon, has urged the federal government to thoroughly investigate the alleged mismanagement of funds rocking the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over the conduct of this year’s Muslim Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

He noted that even though the matter was still under scrutiny, officials found culpable of the scandal should not be spared in view of the magnitude of the issue.

Haroon, who made this call during an interactive session with newsmen in Ilorin, the State capital,
expressed outrage that, as a Guest of King of Saudi Arabia during the just concluded Hajj rites, some pilgrims confided in him that they were paid $200 instead of $500 as travelling allowance.

He said: “This matter is yet to be decided but I want it to be thoroughly investigated and whoever that is found to be part of this act of dishonesty that caused suffering to our pilgrims should not be spared.

“I was in Makkah during the last pilgrimage as a Guest of King Salman of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and some pilgrims confessed to me that many of them were only given $200 instead of $500 and when they got to Saudi, they were only given equivalent of $200 in Riyal. That was how they took money from pilgrims.

“In fact, it is embarrassing that people who travelled to serve God will be the ones to violate God’s law. You must be just and transparent.”

He urged the new NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Sale Uthman, to return sanity to the Commission and know that he is representing the entire Muslim community with successes of the job preoccupying his mind rather than pecuniary gains.

Haroon, however, appealed to Nigerians to frown at corruption and check its prevalence in the society as well as other acts of indecency in order to prevent the loss of respect for Nigerians in the outside world.

“We Nigerians need to reevaluate ourselves because the prevalence of corruption among the citizens is making the country lose its respect in the sight of other countries”, he lamented.

The retired Jurist, who hailed the appointing of Justice Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for maintaining hierarchy in the judiciary.

“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate President Tinubu for maintaining the hierarchy in the Judiciary, hierarchical consideration is highly important in the appointment of head of the judiciary of this country. I must commend him for respecting the law and keeping it”, he added.

Haroon, however, charged the acting CJN as well as other judicial officers to endeavour to safeguard the judiciary in order to maintain social justice and protect the country from descending into chaos.

He said: “Judiciary of any nation is the pillar of social justice and coexistence. Where the judiciary isn’t firm enough or failing to disseminate that divine role given by God and society, then that nation or society is bound to fail because it will lead to people taking actions into their hands and this will cause chaos.

“Judicial officers should see themselves as having a responsibility given to them by God because when you are placed in a court, you have been handed the trust of a particular nation and you have to do it with selflessness without any bias. You have to believe that this job is between you, your conscience, your God and the society.

“I will refer my Lord (CJN) and other judicial officers to Qur’an chapter 4 verse 135, which calls on them to stand firm on justice regardless of who is in question.”

The retired judicial officer also urged Kekere-Ekun to take lessons from her predecessors in order to ensure a successful term in her new role as the head of the country’s Judiciary.

“The newly appointed acting CJN is coming in at a very delicate and crucial moment of this country. She can take lessons from her predecessors to know how to navigate her way in office to get success in her work”, he said.

Speaking on the constitutional review, Haroon said the focus of any new constitution should be on entrenching social justice and safety of the people, saying that “something is wrong with the Constitution that can’t enhance the spirit of sovereignty, that can’t guarantee social justice, safety and security”.

“I’m of the opinion that Nigeria Constitution needs to be examined so that we can have an ideal society where we can have peaceful coexistence and harmony. In doing this, security will be addressed, particularly”, he said.