The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, says the National Judicial Council (NJC) has initiated the process to hold judges accountable for issuing misleading and conflicting judgments.
Justice Ariwoola said the judges will face consequences for their despicable and odious conduct which he described as an embarrassment to the judiciary.
The CJN stated this during the inauguration of twenty-two justices for the Court of Appeal on Wednesday at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Abuja.
He urged the new justices to maintain integrity, avoid faltering, and steer clear of disreputable paths, emphasizing the importance of adjudicating according to the Constitution.
In addition to the Appeal Court justices, 11 new judges for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were also sworn in.
Among those inaugurated were Eberechi Wike, the wife of the FCT Minister, and Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, among others.
The new Justices are Abdullahi Muhammad Liman from Nasarawa State, Abiodun Azeem Akinyemi from Ogun State, Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi from Oyo State, Zainab Bage Abubakar from Kebbi State, Isaq Mohammed Sani from Kaduna State and Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo from Lagos State.
Others are Ngozika Okaisabor from Imo State, Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola from Kogi State, Polycarp Terna Kwahar from Benue State, Fadawa Umaru from Borno State, Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola from Oyo State, Ntong Festus Ntong from Akwa Ibom State and Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi from Edo State.
The list also includes Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba from Abia State, Abdu Dogo from the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Abdulazeez M. Anka from Zamfara State, Owibunkeonye Onwosi from Ebonyi State, Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf from Kwara State, Victoria Toochukwu Nwoye from Anambra State and Enenche Eleojo from Kogi State.
In May, the CJN summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Judge of the Kano state High Court over conflicting interim injunctions related to the Kano Emirate, which created uncertainty in the state.
Justice S. A. Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano issued an order for the eviction of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from the Kofar Kudu Palace, reinforcing the authority of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.
However, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the Kano State High Court issued an injunction to protect Muhammadu Sanusi and other key figures from potential harassment by state authorities.
RN
