Justice Kayode Ariwoola, the CJN of Nigeria, swore in nine new Justices of the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.
During the ceremony where the new judges took the oath of office, Ariwoola warned them that “the level of public scrutiny of your conduct will, henceforth, assume astronomical dimension” because they “have willingly taken up appointments that will strategically place you perennially in the eye of the storm.”
From this instant on, the public’s evaluation of your behavior and demeanor has picked up speed at an unparalleled rate.
To avoid falling from favor with the Almighty God and the curiously looking-upon Nigerian people, you should redouble your efforts and have a proper dialogue with your conscience.
It’s easy to follow the herd, he warned, but it takes courage to go it alone and maintain moral integrity.
He noted that the ceremony was symbolic of the contemporary era because of the proliferation of innovative offenses and the resulting increase in lawsuits.
The political matters in particular are putting an enormous strain on our dockets, and the current climate is anything but ideal.
“This affects every single court in the country. As a result of the increasing demands of the times, we must remain alert and productive at all times.
This again demonstrates the undeniable truth that Nigeria is one of the world’s most litigious nations.
So that our courts are relieved of unnecessary strain and depletion of both human and material resources, “I strongly believe it is high time we began to imbibe the culture of less litigation and more of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” the author writes.
He stressed that the Lordships are the ones who need to buckle down and get their hands dirty in order to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.
The Chief Justice has ordered a redoubling of efforts to meet the deadlines demanded by the parties.
You have a divine mission here on earth as judicial officers, and you must carry it out with complete transparency and integrity.
You’ve worked hard to get to the court of appeal, and now it’s time to prove that your work merits promotion to the highest court in the land.
Many high-profile cases will be brought to you on appeal, and they may be packaged as tempting freebies with the intent to damage your credibility.
I beg Your Lordships to avoid these cunningly disguised temptations, as they will do great damage to the honor and renown you have worked so hard to achieve.
Kaduna State native Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun was appointed to the appellate court on May 24, 1999, while Kaduna State native Binta Fatima Zubairu was also appointed to the high court on October 31, 2001.
Justice Okon Abang of Akwa Ibom was appointed to the High Court on June 22, 2009, while Peter Obiora of Anambra was sworn in as a High Court Judge on January 17, 2005.
Other recent appointments to the High Court include Asma’u Musa Mainoma of the Federal Capital Territory on February 1, 2013, Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu of Oyo State on June 26, 2014, and Jane Esienanwan Iyang of Cross River State on February 12, 2015.
In addition, on February 12, 2015, Sokoto State’s Hadiza Rabiu Shagari was promoted to the High Court Bench, and on July 14, 2017, Borno State’s Paul Ahmed Bassi was appointed to the High Court. (NAN)
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