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The warning by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to judicial officers, politicians, lawyers and other stakeholders, against turning the courts into political battlegrounds through intimidation, misinformation, conflicting orders and abuse of judicial processes is a welcome development.
The CJN, who made the admonition at the swearing-in ceremony and opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for Justices of the Court of Appeal and Election Petition Tribunal members ahead the 2027 general election, declared that election petitions must be decided strictly on the strength of evidence and applicable laws, rather than pandering to political pressure, public sentiment or the popularity of candidates.
She insisted that the judiciary would not tolerate attempts to undermine its independence or manipulate judicial proceedings. She also warned politicians, political parties, public officials and social media users against attempts to influence judicial decisions through public statements, intimidation, deliberate misinformation and campaigns designed to undermine the credibility of the courts.
“The judicial process is not a continuation of the electoral campaign by other means,” she said, stressing that the volume of public opinion or the popularity of a candidate could not substitute for credible evidence before a court of law.
The CJN maintained that election petitions must be determined on the basis of pleadings, evidence and the relevant provisions of the constitution and electoral laws, cautioning influential persons against prejudging cases or making inflammatory statements capable of heightening political tension.
“Misinformation, intimidation and attempts to prejudice pending proceedings have no place in a society governed by the rule of law,” she stated. Kekere-Ekun also condemned the filing of multiple suits and appeals on the same subject matter, the procurement of conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction and the use of ex parte applications to secure tactical advantages in political disputes.
According to her, such practices can bring the administration of justice into disrepute. The CJN reminded the tribunal members that their duty was not to determine the political preferences of Nigerians but to resolve disputes arising from elections in accordance with the law, irrespective of the personalities or political interests involved.
She urged them to remain “firm where firmness is required, patient where patience is necessary, and impartial in every circumstance,” stressing that public confidence in the judiciary would depend largely on their conduct and the integrity of their decisions.
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The admonition by the CJN is timely, especially as the 2027 elections draw near. It is important for the judges to ensure that justice is done without fear or favour.
Judges should heed the advice of the CJN. Unfortunately, The public perception of the judiciary in the country is not so good. This is more pronounced on election-related cases. There are fears of undue interference on some of the rulings emanating from our courts in recent times.
There are also allegations of corruption among judicial officers. A publication by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in March 2024, on corruption pattern and trend in Nigeria for 2023, ranked judges as first among collectors of cash bribes among other public officials. According to the document, Nigerian judges and magistrates received the highest volume of bribes among public officials in 2023, surpassing the police, customs, and military personnel.
Earlier in October 2023, a retiring Supreme Court Justice, Musa Dattijo Abubakar, had in his valedictory speech, decried the rot in the sector. Other Nigerians had also expressed concerns over corruption in the judiciary.
The advice by the CJN is a wake-up call on the judicial officers to be above board. The judges should be bold, fearless and impartial. As an important arm of government, the judiciary must be free and independent. The other two arms of the government – the executive and legislature- could falter but not the judiciary.
For the judiciary to be seen as the last hope of the common man, the judges must be firm and incorruptible. For it to play this enormous role effectively, it must be seen to be above board.
The 2027 poll is significant in the nation’s democratic development. Let the judges dispense justice without fear or favour. We urge the judges to heed the advice of the CJN. They must eschew forum shopping, conflicting rulings and needless ex parte motions. The judges must live up to public expectation.
