The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Wednesday, decried what he termed as unpalatable cocktail of misleading and conflicting judgements emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdictions in the country.<\/p>\n
He said the National Judicial Council, NJC, has already activated the process that would ensure that errant judges are made to face the consequence of their \u201cdespicable and odious conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking shortly after he inaugurated 22 judges into the Court of Appeal Bench, the CJN, lamented that the avalanche of frivolous interlocutory orders emanating from the various courts, have continued to make a mockery of the judicial system.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI have made it known at different fora that we have been treated to an unpalatable cocktail of misleading and conflicting judgments as well as frivolous interlocutory orders emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdictions, which have literally attempted to make a mockery of our judicial system and flagrantly desecrate the revered Temple of Justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cPunitive measures must definitely be meted out to such erring Judges. We have already activated the process of reining-in such errant Judges with a view to making them face the consequence of their despicable and odious conduct.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Judicial Officers, we have to continually remind ourselves the fact that we are not occupying our respective positions to serve ourselves, but the Nigerian masses; and the best way we can serve them is by doing what will make them feel safe in our hands and also trust us to always deliver the right judgments that will not be tainted by sentiments, emotions or other clandestine considerations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Justice Ariwoola, who also swore in 12 legal practitioners that were recently appointed as judges of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, implored the new judicial officers to always abide by their oath of office.<\/p>\n
He described as unprecedented, the number of Justices that were elevated to the bench of the appellate court, noting that the last time such large number of judicial officers were inaugurated, was on June 28, when the court got 18 Justices at the same time.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral unfathomable crimes are being committed in the country, aside from the usual political matters that have made litigation\u2019s to go on alarming rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo court in the land is spared of this\u00a0 litigation deluge, as it were. We are constantly on our toes and the dockets are ever increasing in response to the challenges of the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis underscores the fact that Nigeria is fast emerging as a front-line crime-infested country that we all have to urgently curtail,\u201d the CJN stated.<\/p>\n
He said the enormous task of cleaning the Augean stable rests squarely on the Justices.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour Lordships, so, you must hastily fasten your belt and roll up your sleeves to face the challenges head-on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other words, you should hit the ground speeding at a supersonic velocity; and not just running. You must redouble your pace to catch up with the expectations of the sprawling community of litigants.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs judicial officers, you have a divine mandate on earth that you must discharge with unveiled honesty and sincerity. You must give good account of yourselves to justify your elevation to the Court of Appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the next couple of months, we shall be having two governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, respectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs usual, the courts will be besieged with 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must not falter; and we must not tread the path of infamy. Yes, it is true that 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery position we attain in life always avails us that unique opportunity to do something novel and impactful, especially if there was any previous act of wrongdoing or misapplication of discretion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Your Lordships\u2019 elevation to the higher Bench today, you have to be very mindful of the enormous confidence the public is now reposing in you vis-a-vis their expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike we often say, to whom much is given, much is expected. Your Lordships must not rest on your oars, as the onus now lies more heavily on you to discharge your judicial duties more dispassionately, discretionally, and transparently.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you must, individually and collectively, guide your loins to do more to earn lasting trust and integrity.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour conduct and disposition must tally with the yearnings and aspirations of the generality of the citizenry,\u201d the CJN added.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Wednesday, decried what he termed as unpalatable cocktail of misleading and conflicting judgements emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdictions in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":106224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n