Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has urged judicial officers to resist yielding to public opinions, emotions, or sentiments in their duties. Speaking in Abuja on Monday, May 20, at a workshop organized by the Court of Appeal to review the 2023 election petition tribunals and appeals, Justice Ariwoola emphasized the importance of adhering strictly to the law despite any threats or intimidation.
Justice Ariwoola highlighted the significant attention and emotional involvement in political matters, which can make judicial work particularly challenging and sometimes dangerous due to threats from political elements.
However, he insisted that judges must not allow such pressures to sway them from legal principles and constitutional mandates.
He condemned the practice of media trials intended to influence judicial decisions, asserting that such tactics should never lead a judge to act unconstitutionally or against the law.
He also warned judicial officers against misusing their discretionary powers and emphasized the need for integrity and public trust in the judiciary.
Justice Ariwoola reminded his colleagues of the public’s high expectations and the trust placed in them. He called for judicial officers to maintain conduct that meets these expectations, serving the public by delivering judgments free from sentiment, nepotism, or extraneous considerations.
He stressed the moral and spiritual responsibility judges have, likening their role to standing in for divine judgment on earth.
Furthermore, Justice Ariwoola reiterated his commitment to removing corrupt elements from the judiciary, emphasizing that any judge who behaves improperly will face consequences.
He declared that there would be no “sacred cows” in the judiciary, as maintaining its reputation and image is paramount.
The CJN also addressed the issue of conflicting decisions and frivolous orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction, which he described as embarrassing to the judicial system.
He promised punitive measures against erring judges and expressed his desire to leave a robust judiciary for his successor in August 2024.
President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, also spoke at the workshop, noting the difficulties and challenges of the 2023 election litigation season due to the high volume of cases.
She praised the judges for their hard work and timely determination of cases, preventing any petitions or appeals from lapsing.
Justice Dongban-Mensem mentioned the need for constitutional and Electoral Act amendments to improve the system, specifically pointing to sections 187, 233, 246, 285 of the Constitution, and Paragraph 85(2) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act. She noted that some of these sections suffer from poor legal draftsmanship or unfulfilled legislative intent.
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), commended the judiciary’s stabilizing role in the electoral process.
He highlighted the Court of Appeal’s pivotal role in shaping electoral jurisprudence and expressed hope that the workshop would enhance public understanding of the judiciary’s role in maintaining electoral integrity and credibility.
