CJN Urges Judges to be Neutral in Dispensation of Justice

Okon Bassey in Uyo 

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON (CJN) has tasked the Judiciary that the onus remains on them to be neutral arbiters and sustain the ethos of democracy, in order to gain public confidence in the judicial system.

Ariwoola gave the task last Monday at a three-day retreat for Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, organised by the Attorney General Alliance – Africa (AGA-Africa) in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) which took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

The CJN represented by Hon. Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, JSC, said the theme of the retreat, “Achieving Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Judicial System in Nigeria” was apt, adding that such retreats would serve as constant reminders to Judicial Officers, of the crucial role they play in the society towards the attainment of a stable polity.

“In the light of the above, you will agree with me that ‘Democracy’ can only thrive on the respect for the Rule of Law and its principles, also advocate the independence of the Judiciary, the doctrine of Separation of Powers, guarantee of fundamental rights, freedom of expression epitomised by free press and media as well as free and fair elections, all of which can only be guaranteed by an efficient and effective Judiciary.

“Therefore, efficiency and effectiveness are not mere aspirations, but essential foundations upon which our justice system rests. They are also the cornerstone of a Judiciary, that earns the trust and confidence of its people.

“In order to achieve this, it is imperative to explore innovative case management techniques, embrace modern technology to streamline court processes, and generally dispense justice in a manner that restores faith in the rule of law.

“I must reiterate that, as we move forward into this digital age, we must embrace the potential of technology which would significantly enhance efficiency by streamlining administrative tasks, aid legal research, reduce having backlog of cases, and generally improve transparency and efficiency in the administration of justice”, the CJN said.

He charged them to utilise the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, share best practices, and generally learn from one another, which is inevitable.

“This exchange of ideas, you must agree with me, foster innovations which can engender reforms and improve processes in the Judiciary; therefore, it is my expectation that this retreat will provide us with an invaluable opportunity to reflect on our current practices, identify areas for improvement, and chart a course towards a more efficient and effective Judiciary.

In a welcome address, Administrator of NJI, Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi stated that a vibrant and independent Judiciary manned by upright judicial officers, remained indispensable to the sustenance of public confidence in the administration of justice, adding that the theme of the retreat could not have come at a better time as it would afford the Justices the opportunity to appraise the judicial system, with a view to proffering interventions for improvements. 

In a remark, Chukwukere Unamba-Opara, AGA Africa Programme Director and Country Coordinator for Kenya, said that the AGA-Africa Programme has been consistently dedicated to strengthening the legal landscape, while their commitment to enhancing the capabilities of the Judiciary remains unwavering.