CJN clarifies judges’ exemption from Police withdrawal order

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has clarified that the presidential directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) does not apply to judges. This confirmation comes amidst a public complaint from the Chief Judge of Taraba State regarding the sudden removal of judicial security.
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued the directive to withdraw police orderlies from numerous VIPs to reallocate police manpower and combat rising insecurity across the country. However, the directive had previously granted an exemption to judges and governors, due to their status.
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The Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, stated on Tuesday that the withdrawal of police orderlies from judicial officers in the state on December 8, might increase security risk and threaten judicial independence.  Justice Agya emphasized that judges handle sensitive cases, including criminal, political, terrorism, and corruption matters, which expose them to high risk of intimidation and danger.
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The CJN’s media aide, Tobi Soniyi, stated that the CJN was unaware of any withdrawal affecting judges and reiterated that they are legally exempt from the presidential directive.
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Despite the clarification by the CJN on the exemption, there remains a conflict regarding the situation in Taraba State. Justice Joel Agya stated that police orderlies assigned to all judicial officers in the state were withdrawn without prior notice on December 8, 2025.
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Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police (CP) for Taraba State, Betty Isokpan, denied that court orderlies had been withdrawn. She explained that the directive only affected personal police escorts and guards who accompany VIPs on travel, but not officers assigned to court duties or judges’ residences, stating that every court still has its designated police officer.
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