As the 2027 general elections draw near, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has warned Judges in the country against issuance of conflicting orders or abuse of ex-parte applications in the pre-election disputes that may be brought to them.
The CJN particularly charged Judges to be firm in the
enforcement of procedural discipline to ensure that the Judiciary is not
perceived as a tool for political gamesmanship.
She spoke on Monday at a Special Court session to mark the
commencement of the Federal High Court of Nigeria’s 2025/2026 legal year and
the 41st Annual Judges Conference holding in Abuja.
Justice Kekere-Ekun also addressed the persistent issue of
delay in justice delivery, stressing that judges must actively manage cases and
guide proceedings.
According to her, the National Judicial Council (NJC) would
continue to strengthen oversight of case progression to support efficiency and
institutional discipline.
On welfare and security, the CJN reaffirmed the commitment
of the Judiciary to improving working conditions, infrastructure, research
support and safety of judicial officers, noting that a judge who feels insecure
cannot dispense justice confidently.
She also paid tribute to court administrators, registrars
and support staff, describing their work as foundational to judicial
efficiency, and urged them to uphold integrity and professionalism.
The CJN called for renewed institutional discipline, deeper
digitisation, and unwavering commitment to integrity in the administration of
justice.
While commending the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,
Justice John Tsoho for his leadership, Justice Kekere-Ekun said, the Court
occupies a central place in Nigeria’s constitutional and legal architecture,
with jurisdiction over critical national matters such as revenue, taxation,
immigration, maritime operations and intellectual property.
She said, “The Federal High Court was not conceived as a
court of peripheral jurisdiction. Its decisions directly shape national policy
and public perception of the rule of law and acknowledged that public
confidence in the Judiciary remains fragile.”
The CJN warned that unpredictable or inefficient court
processes could undermine even well-reasoned judgments, emphasising that
punctuality, consistency in court sittings, and transparent communication with
litigants and counsel were essential components of justice delivery.
“Our judgments constitute our voice, and the manner in which
we discharge our duties defines the authority and credibility of that voice,”
she stated.
The CJN stressed the need for judicial independence anchored
on responsibility, courage and moral clarity, while also commending judges of
the Federal High Court for continuing to discharge their duties with
professionalism despite mounting pressure and public scrutiny.
On reforms, Justice Kekere-Ekun identified digitisation as
no longer optional but a core institutional priority and advocated the
expansion of virtual hearings, e-filing, electronic case tracking and secure
digital records to enhance speed, accountability and public trust in the
courts.
In this regard, she described the unveiling of the
Information Electronic Directory Table and Electronic Notice and Advertorial
Display Screens as a significant milestone, noting that the systems would
improve transparency, reduce confusion, and enhance access to court services
for litigants and the public.
Earlier in his speech, the Chief Judge of the Federal High
Court, Justice John Tsoho said, the court fared well in the past legal year in
the efforts to enhance efficient and effective service delivery.
At the end of the 2023/2024 legal year, he said a total of
161,999 cases were pending and carried over to the 2024/2025 legal year, adding
that, within the peri, a total of 19,925 cases were filed, which brought the
total number of pending cases to 181,924.
“From this number, a total of 16,019 were disposed of,
leaving 165,905 pending cases”, he said and added that of the 16,019 cases
disposed of, 3,113 are civil cases, 5,818 are criminal cases, 3,724 are motions
and 3,364 are fundamental human rights cases.
The Chief Judge said a total of 44,650 civil cases, 44,078
criminal cases, 46228 motions and 30,949 fundamental rights enforcement
applications remained pending at the end of the last legal year.
He disclosed that the process of appointing 14 additional
Judges to the Bench of the court has reached an advanced stage following the
approval and support of the CJN and chairman of the NJC
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN said, the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court
over matters that define the country’s economic, regulatory and constitutional
framework, places it at the center of national development and investor
confidence.
While urging Judges of the court to remain vigilant against
any actual or perceived political capture or manipulation, he said, any
perception that judicial processes are shaped by partisanship undermines the
foundation of the rule of law.
The NBA boss said, the judiciary must guard its independence
with utmost vigilance as its authority rests not on force but on public
confidence in its neutrality.
He said, the Federal High Court must insist that it’s
jurisdiction cannot be manipulated as a substitute for political will, party
leadership, party discipline or internal democracy adding that, “Not every
quarrel within a political party is justiciable and not every grievance
constitutes a legal dispute.
“The court’s docket should not become a political theatre or
a stagging ground for political leadership or factional dominance”, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Body of Senior Advocate of Nigeria
(BOSAN), Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN urged Judges to be bold, strong and of good
courage in the discharge of their duties, adding that, “the Law is what the
Judges say”.
Agabi said, the dominance of one political party as it is
now which has virtually eliminated opposition makes the work of the Judiciary
more urgent and important.
He called on Judges to be bold, honest and innovative in the
adjudication of political matters as the hope of the nation is in the
judiciary.
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