ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has explained that the presidential order directing the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Personalities is one of the steps being taken to address the country’s growing insecurity.
However, the CJN’s media aide, Tobi Soniyi, clarified that the directive does not apply to judges.
Following the order, some VIPs have had police personnel previously assigned to them withdrawn.
On Tuesday, the Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, disclosed that police orderlies attached to judges in the state had been withdrawn, cautioning that the move constitutes a serious security concern.
He noted that judges and governors had earlier been excluded from the directive in recognition of their legal right to police protection.
Despite this exemption, he said police officers assigned to judicial officers across Taraba were withdrawn on December 8 without prior notice.
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“Firstly, it is a threat to judges’ security and personal safety, as judges handling sensitive criminal, political, terrorism and corruption cases are exposed to high risk,” Justice Agya said.
“Secondly, it undermines judicial independence. Judicial independence is not only the absence of interference but also protection from intimidation. Without orderlies, courtrooms can become unsafe, and proceedings may be disrupted,” he was quoted as saying.
Responding to the concerns raised by the Chief Judge, Soniyi said he was unaware that police orderlies attached to judges had been withdrawn, questioning why such an action would be taken since judges were exempted from the directive.
He added that no other judges had reported a similar development. “Other chief judges have not said so,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Betty Isokpan, dismissed claims that court orderlies had been withdrawn.
She explained that the directive applies only to personal police escorts and guards, not officers assigned to court duties or deployed to judges’ residences.
“Every court is expected to have a court duty police officer who stays during proceedings. We have only withdrawn police escorts who accompany VIPs to places like Sokoto, Lagos and Kaduna, in compliance with the Inspector General’s directives,” she said.