The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, on Monday in Abuja urged justices to enhance public confidence on decisions of the appellate courts.
Mukhtar gave the advice while administering oath of office on 12 newly appointed Justices of the Court of Appeal, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
“This is therefore a clarion call to you to do your best in order to enhance the subsisting dignity of the judiciary, for on that foundation rests the integrity of constitutional democracy.
“You must all join hands with us to ensure that the general public wake up every morning, confident that the judges of Nigeria will always protect their freedom and guarantee their fundamental rights.
“The stakes like I always say are high and the expectations are growing by the day. Our efforts must therefore be redoubled.
“We will not rest on our oars in our resolve to do justice to the satisfaction of not just the parties but the public as well,” the CJN said.
The CJN explained that the efficacy of exercising constitutional judicial powers was rooted in a moral authority that rested on public confidence.
“As judicial officers, your judgments and rulings will be tried in the court of public opinion and you will face numerous criticisms.
“I, therefore, urge you to remain undaunted in the discharge of your duties,'' she said.
Mukhtar said the justices must exhibit the highest level of “decorum, integrity, independence, intelligence, impartiality as well as temperament in the performance of your duties.”
She added, “As you are all aware, the Court of Appeal sits in a panel of three Justices as against a single judge sitting that you have all been accustomed to in your previous court.
“You must therefore in this court see yourselves as a family with a deep sense of commitment to one another, the court and the nation at large.”
The new Justices are: Ibrahim Bdliya, Abiriya James-Shehu, Obietonbara Daniel-Kalio, Onyekachi Otisi, Stephen Adah, Tinuade Akomolaje-Wilson and Fatima Akinbami, Habeeb Abiru, Peter Ige, Tijani Abubakar and Emmanuel Agim.
NAN reports that the CJN stepped down the swearing-in of Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo till a later date, but no reason was given for the decision.
