Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and other stakeholders in the justice sector have called on the incoming Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to prioritize the sanitization of the judiciary. The appeal was made during a roundtable discussion held in Abuja, focusing on the key issues that undermine the judiciary’s integrity, effectiveness, and service delivery.
The event, organized by Tap Initiative For Citizens Development and the Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) Nigeria, featured prominent speakers, including former Deputy Director of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu (SAN), and Prof. Samuel Erugo (SAN), who highlighted the urgent need for reforms to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
The senior lawyers emphasized that the judiciary is currently suffering from low public trust, which must be addressed to restore its integrity. They urged Justice Kekere-Ekun to reform the judicial appointment process to eliminate nepotism and favoritism, which they claimed have become rampant in recent years.
The speakers also called on the incoming CJN to tackle the issues related to the abuse of ex-parte orders and the problem of conflicting judgments issued by courts of coordinate jurisdiction. They stressed the importance of enhancing discipline and accountability within the judiciary, particularly in handling election petitions and political cases.
Prof. Ojukwu advised Justice Kekere-Ekun to adhere strictly to the principles of equity, fairness, and justice in her leadership. He also suggested that the judiciary’s role in resolving election disputes be minimized, allowing political leaders to be the true choices of the electorate rather than outcomes decided by the courts.
Prof. Erugo added that the Supreme Court should be reformed to allow for the review of its own judgments, especially in cases where there is significant public concern.
Martin Obono, the Executive Director of Tap Initiative, pointed out that the National Judicial Council (NJC), responsible for supervising the appointment of judicial officers, has recently faced public criticism. The criticism stemmed from allegations that the outgoing CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, influenced the appointment of certain family members, further highlighting the need for transparency and reform in the judicial appointment process.
Obono averred that the NJC ignored its guidelines in recent appointments, adding: “There have been reports of insider subversion of the applicable rules governing judicial appointments, such as the reported appointment, in one instance, of a candidate who scored zero in the NJC interview.”
