The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Salisu Abdullahi, have advised judicial officers to desist from seeing their appointment as an opportunity for self-enrichment.
Justices Kekere-Ekun and Abdullahi said the judicial officers should see their appointment as a divine call to address injustice, protect the rule of law and safeguard the people’s fundamental rights.
Both senior jurists spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of a week-long second induction course with the theme: Repositioning the Courts for Better Justice Delivery, organised for newly appointed magistrates and judges of the lower courts
Justice Kekere-Ekun, who is the chairman of the Board of Governors of the NJI, was represented by Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court.
The acting CJN, who expressed optimism that the appointment of the new magistrates and judges would enhance justice delivery in the country, said: “I am also hopeful that you have come with a willingness to serve, a drive for excellence and an irrevocable commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the image of the Nigerian Judiciary.
“I urge you to constantly remind yourselves that you have joined this profession, not for the gains, but because of your passion for humanity, your ardour for the law and a desire to see justice and equity prevail at all time and in all situations.”
Justice Kekere-Ekun noted that by their appointment, the new magistrates and judges were stepping into an unfamiliar terrain where they would be expected to handle numerous cases, most of which would present certain ethical dilemmas that would require them to make sensitive and difficult decisions.
She added: “Consequently, there is no gainsaying the fact that your new offices invariably demand a good grasp and understanding of substantive and procedural law and other ethical values and considerations, all of which are crucial to the effective performance of your duties.”
Justice Abdullahi told the new appointees that by their appointment, they were expected to commit themselves “to a most noble course, one which invariably requires you to address injustice, protect the rule of law, promote equality before the law, and safeguard the human rights of the people of our dear country, Nigeria”.
He added: “To this end, I urge you to see your appointments not as an avenue to gratify your personal desires but rather as an opportunity to serve and to contribute your quota to the advancement of the Nigerian Judiciary.
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