Justice Amina Augie, a judge on the Supreme Court, retired after reaching the age of 70.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, Aguie, the sixth female justice of the Supreme Court, formally announced her retirement on Thursday at a memorial service conducted in her honour in Abuja.
The retired judge advocated for allowing the supreme court to stay out of politics and concentrate on policy concerns in her farewell speech.
She also argued for changing the 1999 Constitution to limit the number of cases that are appealed to the Supreme Court and lessen the burden of the justices of the high court.
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According to Augue, a constitutional modification will improve Nigeria’s judicial system.
She said: “But how can Supreme Court justices focus on policy issues when they are drowning in an overwhelming caseload? The only way forward, as highlighted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, during the special session marking the commencement of the 2022/2023 legal year, is to amend the constitution to restrict the circumstances under which appeals can reach this Supreme Court.
“This marks the final instance where my voice will be heard in any court, and I wish to use this opportunity to directly address the 10th National Assembly, through distinguished Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who was once my student at the Law School.
“I had the privilege of teaching him evidence, and I trust that he learned well. Hence, it should be evident to him that swift action is needed from the 10th National Assembly to accomplish what others could not, amending the constitution to enhance the functioning of our courts in Nigeria.”
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Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, declared that the Federal Government was prepared to enhance the supreme court to bring it up to the constitutionally mandated justice count.
“President Bola Tinubu-led government shall guarantee excellent conditions of service and remunerations good enough to appreciate the onerous duties of judicial officers at all levels,” Fagbemi said.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, referred to Justice Augie earlier in his statement as “a rare gem and unblemished symbol of humility and piety.”
“Her judgments are not only incisive but equally analytical and rich in content and context. Her robust contributions to the development of our jurisprudence are fascinating and captivating, too. Her impeccable attention to detail in every matter that came before her is alluring and salutary as well,” he said.
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Justice Amina Augie, who was born on September 3, 1953, earned her West African School Certificate in 1971 and her First School Leaving Certificate in 1965.
She received a Second Class Upper Division in Law from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1977 after completing her legal studies there.
In 1977, she promptly continued on to the Nigerian Law School.
In 1978, she received a call to the Nigerian Bar.
The lawyer served her National Youth Service in Sokoto State between 1978 and 1979 as a Legal Aid Counsel for the Legal Aid Council.
With Justice Augie’s resignation, the supreme court is currently down to 11 justices.
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