Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, yesterday charged newly appointed judges of the Federal High Court to see their elevation to the bench as a sacred constitutional trust rather than a mere rise in status, warning that their decisions would shape the nation’s economic stability, governance, and public confidence in justice.
Justice Kekere-Ekun gave the charge while administering the Oath of Allegiance and Judicial Oath to the judges at a swearing-in ceremony held at the Supreme Court of Nigeria Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
“You have assumed not merely an office, but a solemn constitutional responsibility,” the CJN declared. “From this moment, you cease to belong wholly to yourselves; you belong to the law, to your conscience, and to the Nigerian people.”
She reminded the judges that the Federal High Court occupied a pivotal position in Nigeria’s judicial framework, with jurisdiction over revenue, banking, maritime affairs, intellectual property, and other complex commercial and regulatory disputes whose outcomes often reverberate beyond the courtroom into markets, institutions, and national governance.
Justice Kekere-Ekun disclosed that the judges emerged through one of the most rigorous, transparent, and technology-driven appointment processes in Nigeria’s judicial history.
According to her, the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission strengthened evaluation mechanisms to prioritise merit, integrity, competence, and temperament, while also incorporating structured public participation.
The CJN, however, expressed concern over what she described as a growing trend of sweeping and indiscriminate attacks against the judiciary, cautioning that blanket allegations of corruption, without evidence or recourse to established complaint channels, undermine public trust and unfairly tarnish the reputations of diligent judicial officers.
“While the judiciary does not claim infallibility and will discipline misconduct where established, independence must be protected from careless assault. When confidence in the courts collapses, the rule of law itself is imperilled,” she said.
She urged the newly sworn-in judges to remain disciplined, punctual, and impartial, warning that justice delayed through indolence or poor case management amounts to justice denied.
The CJN also advised them to resist subtle pressures from social, political, financial or relational, and to guard both their independence and public perception.
“The oath you have taken today is not ceremonial language; it is a covenant with God and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she said, calling on the judges to embrace continuing judicial education, modern case management techniques, and ongoing digitisation efforts within the court system.
Congratulating the judges on their appointment, Justice Kekere-Ekun urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through daily discipline and unwavering integrity, expressing hope that their tenure would strengthen the Federal High Court and deepen public trust in the administration of justice in Nigeria.
The 14 judges sworn in were part of 36 judicial officers recommended by the council for various courts, including the Supreme Court, State High Courts, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal nationwide.
The judges were appointed following recommendations by the National Judicial Council (NJC), which at its 110th meeting held on January 13 and 14, approved 14 candidates for the Federal High Court bench.
