Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on the judges not to allow their courtrooms to be used as an environment that compounds the vulnerability of the Nigerian child.
Specifically, she warned that the justice system must not inadvertently contribute to the long-term marginalisation of those it is meant to guide.
The CJN spoke yesterday in Abuja at the biennial national workshop on Child Justice and Human Rights, held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI). Speaking through her representative at the event, Justice Inyang Okoro, Kekere-Ekun
charged judicial officers to conduct proceedings, involving children with restraint, control and a clear awareness of the impact of judicial conduct.
While warning against the use of a fragmented approach on matters involving children, the CJN said: “Child justice requires coordination, clarity of roles and consistency in action.”
She revealed that matters involving children continue to come before our courts in forms that are deeply concerning, ranging from cases of neglect and abuse, to trafficking, exploitation and family breakdown.
These, she noted, “are not isolated occurrences as they reflect recurring patterns that inevitably call for a more deliberate and coordinated response from all institutions represented here.
“For judicial officers, the responsibility is immediate and unavoidable. The courtroom must not become an environment that compounds the vulnerability of a child. Proceedings must be conducted with restraint, control and a clear awareness of the impact of judicial conduct.
“The manner in which evidence is received, the tone adopted in addressing young persons and the general management of such cases must reflect the seriousness of the issues before the court.
“At the same time, the effectiveness of judicial intervention is often dependent on the quality of support provided by other institutions.”
The CJN, however, lamented that “Where investigations are poorly conducted, where necessary reports are not made available or where there is a lack of coordination between agencies, the ability of the court to arrive at a just and informed decision is significantly impaired.
“These gaps must be addressed with a greater sense of responsibility. There is also the need to examine how children in conflict with the law are handled. While the law must take its course, care must be taken to ensure that responses do not result in outcomes that are disproportionate or that fail to consider the prospects of rehabilitation.
She said it is not sufficient to operate within institutional boundaries without regard to the broader impact on the child, as each component of the system must function with an awareness of its place within a larger framework.
The workshop, she stated, provides an opportunity to reflect on the issues with the seriousness they deserve. It is expected that participants will engage not only with the legal principles involved, but also with the practical deficiencies that continue to affect outcomes in this area.
The objective must be to identify and address those gaps in a manner that leads to measurable improvement. She commended the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, for his sustained commitment to strengthening judicial education and institutional capacity.
In his welcome address, Justice Adejumo said the workshop was designed with a clear aim to bridge existing gaps by fostering unity among key stakeholders in our shared mission to improve justice for our children.
He noted that children engage with the legal system for various reasons, whether as witnesses, victims, survivors, alleged offenders or in other instances requiring judicial oversight.
“It is essential that in these circumstances, children are granted the same access to justice as any other citizen. This entails providing fair and prompt remedies for violation of their rights, while offering robust protections throughout their involvement with the courts.
“To this end, we must persistently work toward a framework that is responsive to the specific rights and needs of children, including those with disabilities and those from ethnic or religious minorities,” Justice Adejumo stated.
