From Lateef Taiwo
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Wednesday said that although several vitriolic attacks are regularly heaped on the judiciary; it is crystal clear and important to know that public opinion, no matter how serious or weighty it might be, cannot override or supersede the Constitution of the country which judges apply in deciding cases.
The CJN asserted this at the inauguration ceremony of 23 new Federal High Court Judges at the Supreme court in Abuja.
On this note, he charged the Judges in the country to endeavour to apply constitutional provisions in deciding every case that may be assigned to them.
He however added that the judicial officers still owe it to their conscience and the generality of the Nigerian masses, particularly those who are looking up to them, the great responsibility of good moral rectitude and acceptable conduct to uphold and consolidate the trust reposed in them.
He said “The newly appointed Judges of the Federal High Court have just taken the oath of office. This is a requirement prescribed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“By virtue of the oath you have just taken, you have, automatically, assumed new status and responsibilities in life. A new blank page in the book of life has just been opened for you; and as it is with public office, especially the Judiciary, you are completely opened to daily public scrutiny.
“The pen is right there in your hand to write whatever you desire to be the content of the new page that is now openly displayed in the public domain”.
The CJN noted that although judicial officers are not spirits or superhuman beings, so much impossible things are yet expected from them by the society.
He reminded the judges that the seat is not for the acceptance of plate of porridge offered by greedy litigants.
“I heartily rejoice with you on this very important and sensitive appointment, but at the same time, I sincerely sympathize with you for the landmines that are already laying on your paths in the course of your adjudication, especially if your conscience is at variance with your conduct.
“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.
“You must, at all times, rise above temptations and trials that might obstruct or even halt your rise to the pinnacle of your career. We are all humans, no doubt, but you display the humanism in you by doing those extraordinary things that people would ordinarily conclude that you cannot do.
“That is what separates those with integrity and passion for success from those with low pedigree and dysfunctional moral compass.
“My lords, for the umpteenth time, I wish to impress it on you, in very clear terms, the honest fact that the exercise that has just taken place, should not, by any vestige of imagination, be taken for granted or simply tagged as one of those usual ceremonies merely conducted to comply with established procedures and obligations in public office.
“You have just entered into a lifetime covenant with the Almighty God and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Henceforth, whatever you do rightly will be counted, and accordingly, recorded in your favour”.
Ariwoola speaking further added that Similarly, whatever wrongdoing that emanates from any form of indiscretion and abuse of office, by any of them, will, in like manner, be used to concertize, chastise and thoroughly sanitize the same conscience that they may have refused to listen to.
He warned that appointment to the bench is not an appointment to wealth, vainglory, dishonest disposition or ostentatious lifestyle through corrupt acquaintances.
He noted that “The searchlight of the National Judicial Council 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”.
He threatened that NJC’s radar is sophisticated enough to detect every form of corruption and wrongdoing by Judicial officers; and they will not waste a moment in taking the necessary action to fish out the bad eggs.
He noted that the remoteness of their location of adjudication can never blur their sight on any of them as they have put in place the right machinery to capture and document their conduct.
He warned them to be careful and take heed, or else, they may end up regretting ever being appointed a judicial officer.
He however added that this is not his wish for them while he advised them to be impartial.
He said ” You must be impartial, fair to all, and apply justice in all your undertakings. The times that we are in, are quite perilous, so we need judicial officers who are calculative, honest, objective and dispassionate in all ramifications.
“Thus, your appointments to the bench at this crucial period of our national history are not by accident but by divine ordination”, Ariwoola said.
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