CJN urges new judges to uphold integrity

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has urged the newly appointed judges to adjudicate uprightly according to the laws of the land.

He tasked judges to hear all matters brought before the court, insisting that they must do so without fear or favour.

Justice Ariwoola, who spoke on Wednesday at the swearing-in ceremony of the new judges at the Supreme Court, Abuja, particularly tasked the judges that will handle election cases in the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections to avoid treading the path of infamy.

The CJN said, “In the next couple of months, we shall be having two governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, respectively. As usual, the courts will be besieged with a plethora of petitions. It is our statutory duty to hear all matters that come before us and adjudicate according to the laws of the land. We must not falter, and we must not tread the path of infamy.

“Yes, indeed, we cannot please everyone through our actions and work, but with the right application of the law and the Constitution of the land, which we all have collectively pledged to uphold, we can go a long way to do those things that our conscience will be very proud of; and the generality of the Nigerian citizens will equally be happy about”.

Speaking further, the CJN vowed that erring judges who have chosen to make a mockery of the judiciary by churning out conflicting judgements and frivolous interlocutory orders will not go unpunished.

“I have made it known at different fora that we have been treated to an unpalatable cocktail of misleading and conflicting judgements as well as frivolous interlocutory orders emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdictions, which have attempted to make a mockery of our judicial system and flagrantly desecrate the revered Temple of Justice.

“Several cases of such abound across the length and breadth of the country. This is, largely, an embarrassment to our jurisprudence, and we will never handle it with levity. Punitive measures must be meted out to such erring judges.

“We have already activated the process of reining in such errant Judges to make them face the consequence of their despicable and odious conduct,” Ariwoola said.

He reminded the Judges that their elevation is to serve and at all times they mustn’t be involved in what would jeopardize the trust of the people in them.

He also noted that the courts in recent times have seen an increase in cases giving rise to crime and aggrieved politicians who flock to the court with political cases, he advised them to work diligently.