Former Presidential Media Aide Umar Sani has recalled an instance of informal engagement between the executive arm of government and members of the judiciary during his time working at Nigeria’s Presidential Villa.
Sani shared the experience during an interview on SYMFONI TV, where he spoke about the nature of interactions that occasionally occurred between top government officials and judicial officers during previous administrations. His remarks came amid continuing public discussions about relationships between the different arms of government.
Reflecting on his time in the presidency, Sani explained that some of the interactions took place in a social context, particularly during the Muslim fasting period. According to him, the Presidency once invited several justices to the Presidential Villa for an iftar gathering during the tenure of former Chief Justice of Nigeria Aloma Mukhtar.
“During our time in the villa, during the time of Aloma Mukhtar. Just to break fast, we invited justices to come and break fast with us. They didn’t tell us that they are not coming,” Sani said.
The former presidential aide suggested that the invitation was simply a social gesture intended to foster cordial relations among senior figures in government rather than a formal meeting tied to official duties.
Aloma Mukhtar, who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 2012 to 2014, made history as the first woman to occupy the country’s highest judicial office. Her tenure was widely noted for efforts to strengthen judicial discipline and promote reforms aimed at improving accountability within the judiciary.
Sani’s recollection has further contributed to ongoing conversations about the importance of maintaining clear institutional boundaries while also encouraging cooperation among leaders of the executive and judicial arms of government.