The newly inaugurated Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has said the Nigerian judiciary is at a new dawn.
During his first major official assignment, the CJN vowed that obedience to court orders would not be negotiable under her watch.
According to her, no individual or institution, irrespective of their standing, would be permitted to treat judgments of court with levity or disregard.
The CJN spoke yesterday, at the occasion of the commencement of the 2024/2025 legal year and the inauguration of Barrister Wolemi Esan, the Deputy Managing Partner at Olaniwun Ajayi, Josiah Rapuluchuks Nduka, Esq, a former Spokesman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and 85 others as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) held at the Supreme Court.
Justice Kekere-Ekun said that the judiciary stands committed to ensuring that the sanctity of legal decisions is upheld in line with the rule of law.
The CJN argued that all hands must be on deck to foster an unwavering commitment to the full enthronement of the rule of law to achieve the new narrations.
“Disobedience to court orders or non-compliance with judicial directives is a direct affront to democracy and an invitation to anarchy.
“As such, we must respect and observe all the features of an enduring democracy, for in doing so, we maintain the delicate balance that sustains our society “.
” Let us, therefore, work together collectively and tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria continues to abide by the rule of law, upholds the best democratic practices and remains vigilant in the protection of citizens’ rights.
“The rights of every Nigerian must be valiantly safeguarded against oppression and impunity, utilising the full array of legal instruments at our disposal.
Maintaining that her appointment has brought a new dawn and era in the Nigerian judiciary, Justice Kekere-Ekun assured Nigerians of her commitment to working diligently to improve public perception of the judiciary.
According to her, ” Over the years, various factors have contributed to the negative image of the judiciary. However, we are determined to change the narrative and make the judiciary a source of pride for all Nigerians.”
“When the legal compass of a nation falters, everything suffers, including public and international perception”.
” The attitude of some of us in the justice sector is sometimes less than helpful, which has contributed to the current image deficit of the country’s legal system.
The CJN condemned some lawyers’ forum shopping, which she claimed had led to conflicting orders by courts of coordinated jurisdiction.
To address the ugly trend, the CJN vowed that there would be consequences for any act of indiscretion that could bring the judiciary to disrepute.
In his speech, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, charged the new SANs with honesty and professional standards.
He said, “To the new silks, I warmly welcome you to the inner bar. Being chosen and decorated with honour amongst your colleagues is a remarkable privilege.
“As the name of the LPPC implies, the conferment of the rank of SAN is a privilege for the deserving only. Every visionary professional strives to attain the apex of such a profession. Expectedly, the rank is being conferred on worthy advocates as a prestigious honour in recognition of their excellence in advocacy and leadership roles in law or legal practice.
“Your new and enviable status demands that you be honest and maintain professional standards at all times within and outside the courtroom towards the judex, colleagues, clients, and the public in general. You’ll need to keep a very high standard of professional conduct when you begin your duties.
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