Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Wednesday swore in 22 new justices of the Court of Appeal with a charge, that they must be upright in the delivery of justice to Nigerians without fear or favour.
This is the highest number of appointments in one fell swoop to the Court in recent time.
When 25 High Court judges were sworn-in as Justices of the Court of Appeal on 10 December 1998, they were dubbed— The Russians (Rushians)— after the the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) which was the largest country that ever existed. Russia was its capital. That appointment (25 judges) at the same time was unprecedented
Addressing the new appellate court justices at the Supreme Court’s ceremonial hall in Abuja, the CJN said they must always deliver right judgments that will not be tainted by sentiments, emotions, or other clandestine considerations
Pointing put that the Judiciary has been treated to a distasteful cocktail of misleading and conflicting judgments as well as frivolous interlocutory orders emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdictions, Justice Ariwoola said these have literally attempted to make a mockery of the judicial system and flagrantly desecrate the revered temple of justice.
“Several 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. Punitive measures must definitely be meted out to such erring Judges,” he said.
Counseling the justices to be alert and responsive, the CJN said many incomprehensible crimes are being committed in the country, aside from the usual political matters that have made litigations go on the alarming rise, and that no court in the country is spared of the litigation deluge.
He said Nigeria is fast emerging as a frontline crime-infested country that needs to be curtailed urgently and added that, the enormous task of cleaning the Augean stable rests squarely on the Justices, “So, you must hastily fasten your belt and roll up your sleeves to face the challenges head-on.
“In 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”.
As judicial officers, he said the Justices have a divine mandate on earth to discharge their judicial functions with unveiled honesty and sincerity, give good accounts of themselves, and justify their elevation to the Court of Appeal.
The CJN said, the Edo and Ondo state governorship elections will be held in the next couple of months and that, the courts will be besieged with plethora of petitions and added that, “It is our statutory duty to hear all matters that come before us and adjudicate according to the laws of the land.
“We 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”.
He charged them not to rest on their oars, as the onus now lies more heavily on them to discharge their judicial duties more dispassionately, discretionally, and transparently.
The CJN, also swore in 12 newly appointed Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with a charge for them to discharge their judicial functions in accordance with the Constitution.
