Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar yesterday vowed to cleanse the judiciary and free the institution from rot which is giving the institution a bad image in he country. The CJN said the development has waned public confidence in the judiciary and added that: “The extent to which prevalent societal currents in recent times have engulfed the judiciary demands great concern, drastic measures are being taken to curb the trend”.
Justice Aloma-Mukhtar expressed fear that if the public loses respect for the Bench, the society may gradually be creeping back to the days of jungle justice as less and less persons and institutions would not be willing to entrust their disputes to the judiciary. The CJN who stated this after swearing in 12 Judges of the National Industrial Court (NIC) at the Supreme Court Abuja, complex also reiterated that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has, “a vision of a justice system that is simple, fast and efficient” aimed at sanitizing the judiciary and ridding it of bad eggs.
She counseled the new judges by saying “You must also show the highest sense of discipline, honesty, integrity, diligence and dedication to duty as well as good behaviors. “You are expected to jealously guard against disobedience of any court order in line with your oath to defend and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You must not shy away from taking a firm position against a member of the public or even the bar that colludes to flaunt court orders as same is an affront on the collective integrity of the bench as well as the integrity of the particular Judge involved” Justice Aloma-Mukhtar warned.
The CJN frowned at what she described as the attitude of “press and public trial” pointing out that the trend has impugned on the independence of the Nigerian bench. She continued “Painfully, it is not just newspaper columnists and editorial writers that are involved, but legal practitioners unfortunately get enmeshed in this unwholesome practice. It is not uncommon these days to see senior members of the Bar, wig in hand after court sessions grant interview to eager pressmen castigating the court order or judgment just delivered” she observed.
The CJN however cautioned judicial officers to refrain from such act as the conduct is highly unprofessional and unbecoming of a legal practitioner.
Earlier, she told the judges that the objective of the NIC is to ensure that disruption of services, production and other forms of economic activities by reason attributable to labour and industrial disputes is reduced to the barest minimum. According to the CJN, “in labour relationship, conflict is endemic but what is important is to ensure that disputes are resolved without undue delay in the overall interest of economic growth and development.” She urged the newly sworn-in judges to apply the law in all fairness with good conscience without fear of harassment just as she assured that no baseless or malicious petition against any judge would be entertained.
The newly sworn-in Judges are, Mrs. Rakiya B. Haastrup, the Chief Registrar, NIC, Mr. Waziri Abali, Registrar General, Abuja Multi-Door Court House (AMDC), Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre, High Court of the FCT, Abuja, Mrs Rabi H. Gwandu, Assistant Director, (Admini-stration) National Law Reform Commission, Mr. Lawal Mani, Director (Administration), Federal Judicial Service Commission and Mrs. Olufunke Yemi Anuwe, Assistant Chief Registrar, NIC, Jos Division.
Others are, Mr. John Dele Peters, Director of Studies, National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja, Mrs. Oyejoju O. Oyewumi, Chief Magistrate I, FCT Judiciary, Mrs. Edith N. N. Agbakoba, Director Civil Justice, Legal Aid Council, Mr. Amadi Kenneth Ikechukwu Private Legal Practitioner, Abia State, Mrs. Anthonia Ndidi Ubaka, Private Legal Practitioner, Lagos, Mr. Peter Odo Lifu, Private Legal Practitioner, Oyo State and Mr. Ebeye David E. Isele, Chief Magistrate I & DCR II, Bayelsa State Judiciary.
http://peoplesdailyng.com/cjn-vows-to-cleanse-judiciary-of-rot/
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