- Swear-in 307 judges, judicial officers as members
Chief Justice of Nigeria,CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has warned 307 members of 2023 Election Petition Tribunals to shun corruption and follow the path of Justice in adjudicating election petitions that will be brought before them next year.
Justice Ariwoola issued the warning on
Monday while administering oaths on 307 Judges, judicial officers including few Magistrates and Registrars that would constitute members of the election tribunals that he “will not condone any act of recklessness ,abuse of power and public trust.”
According to him, it is a rare privilege for those judges to be selected to serve and therefore , “Your Lordships must give a good account of yourselves.”
“This is a mandatory exercise required to tune the minds of all Judicial Officers to the dictates of the Constitution and good conscience, he said adding, “This is not an undertaken to be handled with levity.”
CJN Ariwoola reminded the judges that they are expected to conduct their affairs within the ambit of the law and the oath that has just been administered on them.
He said anything short of that will place them “on a collision course with history; and then, God will ask you the questions that you might not be confident enough to answer.”
The CJN confidently assured the members that the society in which they operate will certainly expect the impossible from each of them as members of Election Petition Tribunals.
He said that there is virtually nothing that has not been seen or heard before, but they should be ready to see and hear more, “especially as you begin to adjudicate on election matters in 2023.”
“Even though I rejoice with you on this very important appointment, I still sympathize with you for the many troubles, inconveniences, verbal assaults and all sorts of uncomplimentary remarks that will be made about you by various litigants in the course of your adjudication; especially if your conscience is not controlling your conduct.”
“We are all humans, no doubt, but you display the humanism in you by doing those extraordinary things that people would ordinarily say you cannot do. That is what distinguishes those with integrity and passion for success from those with unenviable pedigree and dysfunctional moral compass,” he added.
The CJN also reminded the judges that trust is a burden and enjoined that they “must discharge it with utmost sincerity, honesty and transparency, because conscience is an open wound healed only by truth.”
He charged the members of the election tribunals to rise and operate above every sentiment that might play out in the course of your adjudication in the various tribunals adding that “there is no doubt that temptations, tribulations, intimidations and even sheer blackmails may be unleashed on you”
He said that as thoroughbred Judicial Officers, they must guide their loins to rise above them and do what will earn them accolades from their creator and also from the court of public opinions.
“Always remember that your conducts will be publicly dissected and thoroughly scrutinized.