Senior lawyers, activists, and stakeholders in the nation’s justice system have urged the incoming Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to undertake significant reforms in the judiciary.
They emphasized that a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s judiciary is crucial for restoring public trust in this branch of government.
During a roundtable discussion in Abuja on Tuesday, two Professors of Law, Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) and Samuel Erugo (SAN), along with other panellists, expressed concern over the current state of the judiciary in Nigeria.
At the event, activist Aisha Yesufu and the panellists insisted on the necessity of “a total reform of the judiciary in the best interest of justice delivery.”
A five-point agenda was also drafted during the session to guide the incoming CJN. Professor Ojukwu advised the new CJN to ensure that Nigerians retain faith in the judiciary, emphasizing that “the principles of equity, fairness, and justice should guide her tenure.”
He also recommended that courts should avoid involvement in election cases to ensure that only rightful winners assume leadership roles.
Samuel Erugo (SAN) suggested that the Supreme Court be reformed to allow it to review its own judgments, particularly in cases where there is significant public concern.
Additionally, the panellists called on Kekere-Ekun to reform the process of judicial appointments to eliminate nepotism and favoritism.
The stakeholders also urged the incoming CJN to address the issue of conflicting judgments and orders issued by courts of the same level, stressing that resolving this is crucial for both the judiciary and the public.
Furthermore, the panellists emphasized the importance of discipline and accountability in the judiciary as a means of restoring public confidence.
At the event, the Executive Director of Tap Initiative, Mr. Martin Obono, highlighted recent criticism faced by the National Judicial Council, particularly allegations against the outgoing CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, of appointing family members and relatives to the bench.
Obono claimed that the council had disregarded its own guidelines in recent appointments, citing an instance where a candidate who scored zero in the NJC interview was appointed.
He urged the new CJN to explicitly commit to restoring integrity and merit in judicial appointments by introducing transparent selection processes, including public advertisement of judicial vacancies, nominations, interviews, shortlisting, and final selection.
Another lawyer and member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Folarin Aluko, called on the new CJN to urgently address the issue of conflicting judgments and the misuse of interim injunctions.
He suggested that clear practice directions should be established for managing jurisdictional overlaps, with uniform practice directions across all court systems in the country.
Aisha Yesufu also called for increased financial transparency, accountability, and public reporting to restore trust in the judiciary.
She emphasized that disciplinary actions should be prompt and proportionate to the misconduct.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is set to assume leadership of Nigeria’s judiciary on Thursday, following the retirement of the incumbent, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who is stepping down upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
