Nigeria at crossroads, needs honest judicial officers’ intervention – CJN Ariwoola

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola on Friday in Abuja lamented that Nigeria is currently at crossroads through a myriad of problems plaguing her and urgently needs sincere and honest interventions of judicial officers.

Justice Ariwoola pleaded with judicial officers in the country to rise to the challenge and rescue the nation through forthright adjudication of crises that would be brought before them.

“We hear of corruptions of various forms, killings, kidnappings, armed robbery, banditry and all forms of terrorism against the state and individual citizens”, the CJN said while swearing in Justice Stanley Adekunle Lawal as Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.

He said, most often, the cases find their way to the court for the right and proper adjudication and charged Justice Lawal to adhere strictly with the code of conduct for judicial officers in carrying out his duties.

He said, the oath of office taken by Justice Lawal, “was a mandatory exercise required to align the conscience of our Judicial Officers with good conduct, fear of God and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to which we have all solemnly sworn to uphold under any condition”.

Justice Ariwoola charged the newly appointed Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the FCT to represent the interest and crystalize the image of the Nigerian Judiciary by doing justice to all matters that Come before him.

“A lure with unmerited material possessions will not only weaken your reputation but equally impair your sense of judgment”, he charged Justice Lawal.

“That is not my wish for your Lordship anyway. However, you should always be very careful and vigilant too. In everything you do in the course of adjudicating, you must consult your God, the Constitution and your conscience.

“Always have at the back of your mind, as I believe you had always, that at every point of your life, someone somewhere is right behind you and taking note of all your conduct.

“We often hear of all manners of underhand dealings by some judicial officers, especially at the lowest rung of the ladder. I would like your Lordship to remember that destiny has placed this enormous responsibility on your shoulders to lead your brother Judges and the entire staff of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory,” he added.

He told Justice Lawal not to fail or falter, as Nigeria is earnestly and passionately looking for a crop of judicial officers who will be role-models that can confidently hoist the banner of honesty, integrity and uprightness.

“You must endeavour to prove your adjudicatory and administrative ingenuity to earn a lasting reputation in the annals of the Nigerian Judiciary,” he advised.