On Wednesday, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, charged judges to severe ties with anything that will smear their hands and bring them into disrepute during their assignment.
According to the CJN, the Bench is neither for the indolent, the greedy, nor those with dubious character, who can easily fall for a plate of porridge offered by desperate litigants and charged Judges to, at all times, rise above temptations and trials that might obstruct or even halt their rise to the pinnacle of your career.
The CJN, who was speaking while swearing in 23 newly appointed Judges of the Federal High Court at the main courtroom of the Supreme Court, told judicial officers to be impartial, fair to all, and apply justice in all their undertakings, saying that ” The times that we are in are quite perilous, so we need judicial officers who are calculative, honest, objective and dispassionate in all ramifications.”
Justice Ariwoola said, “Appointment to the Bench is not an appointment to wealth, vainglory, dishonest disposition or ostentatious lifestyle through corrupt acquaintances. The searchlight of the National Judicial Council (CJN) beams brightly on all judicial officers across the country. The NJC should never, either by omission or commission, be mistaken for a toothless Bulldog.
“It can bark fiercely and as well bite deeply and aggressively, too. Our radar is sophisticated enough to detect every form of corruption and wrongdoing by Judicial officers, and we will not waste a moment in taking the necessary action to fish out the bad eggs.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer