CJN Reads Riot Act To New Appeal Court Justices

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has called on the new justices of the Appeal Court to deliver justice to Nigerians without fear or favour.

One of the justices elevated to the appellate court is Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who, on January 8, 2024, voided the detention of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and ordered his release.

The judge who also imposed N100 million fine on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for detaining Emefiele beyond the period allowed by law was sworn into Appeal Court bench along with 21 others.

Justice Adeniyi had on January 8 barred the federal government and any of its agencies, notwithstanding Emefiele’s current trial, from re-arresting, detaining and harassing him over any alleged offence without first obtaining a warrant of arrest from a court of competent jurisdiction.
At the inauguration ceremony, the CJN said, “My Lords, you have just taken the oath to pledge your allegiance to the dictates of the Almighty God and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is a solemn pledge and commitment to good conduct in the course of your adjudication, especially as senior judicial officers in the appellate court.

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‘’The number of Justices that we have just sworn-in today is quite unprecedented in the recent history of the Court of Appeal. The last time we had a large number like this was on Monday, 28 June, 2021, when 18 Justices were sworn-in. That was preceded by that of Monday, 5th November,2012 when 12 Justices were inaugurated.

“Today’s ceremony is an indication of the perilous times that we are currently in, which has resulted in an upsurge in litigation.

“Several unfathomable crimes are being committed in the country, aside from the usual political matters that have made litigations to go on alarming rise.

“No Court in the land is spared of this litigation deluge, as it were. We are constantly on our toes and the dockets are ever increasing in response to the challenges of the time.”