Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has advised newly appointed judges of the lower courts to avoid unsolicited gifts and unnecessary celebrations, warning that such practices can create avenues for future problems.
The CJN gave the advice at the opening of an induction course for new judges in Abuja, represented by Administrator of the National Judicial Institute Justice Babatunde Adejumo. She challenged the judges to ensure speedy trials, stressing that expeditious hearing of cases is essential to maintaining litigants’ confidence in the judiciary, and urged them to work harmoniously with court officials, particularly registrars and exhibit keepers. “You must work harmoniously with all the officials under you and ensure that you manage them diplomatically and technically. You must also read the rules of courts so that lawyers will not take you for a ride. Read everything that comes before you,” she said.
On the question of gifts and celebrations specifically, Kekere-Ekun was direct. “Do not allow unsolicited gifts. You must equally avoid throwing unnecessary birthday parties. People will seize the opportunity to bring unsolicited gifts that can lead to petitions,” she said. She also cautioned the new judges against being disrespectful toward their heads of court and warned against overusing their power of contempt. “I will also enjoin you not to use your power of contempt too much. It should be used sparingly, otherwise it may backfire,” she added.
In his welcome address, Justice Adejumo congratulated the new judges and reminded them of their role in upholding constitutional supremacy and the rule of law. He described the lower courts as vital to the justice system, both as the primary means through which ordinary Nigerians access justice and as a filter that eases the workload of the superior courts, making the competence of those appointed to man them especially important. “As you step forward to discharge your statutory functions, capacity-building initiatives like this are structured to provide the solid foundation needed to ease your transition to the Bench,” he said.
Adejumo explained that the induction course was designed to instill core values of judicial conduct, ethics and social context awareness, while also deepening participants’ understanding of courtroom dynamics and the practical application of substantive and procedural law.
