CJN Tasks 22 New FCT High Court Judges Of Good Conduct

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad on Tuesday, tasked the 22 newly sworn-in Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to refrain from anything that would smear their name or bring them into disrepute.

The CJN, while swearing in the judges at the Supreme Court in Abuja said, “The Bench is neither for the prosaic, the greedy nor those with questionable character who can easily fall for a plate of porridge offered by desperate litigants”, and charged them to rise above temptations and trials that might obstruct or even halt their rise to the pinnacle of their career.

According to the CJN, the newly sworn-in judges have entered a lifetime convenant with God and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that whatever they do rightly would be counted and accordingly recorded in their favour.

“Appointment to the Bench is not an appointment to wealth, vain glory, dishonest disposition or ostentatious lifestyle through corrupt acquaintances,” he said and told them that the searchlight of the National Judicial Council (NJC) beams on all judicial officers across the country.

“Our radar is sophisticated enough to detect every form of corruption and wrong doings. The remoteness of your location of adjudication can never blur our sight on you”, he told the judges and added that the NJC has powerful lens to capture and document their conduct and urged them to be careful in their conduct to avoid regretting been appointed a judicial officer.

The CJN said the letters and words of the oath they have taken must reside in a prime place of their heart and be applied generously in their adjudications, even as he urged them to be impartial, fair to all and apply justice and equity in all their undertakings.

He said what the country needs now are judicial officers who are calculating, honesty, objective, dispassionate and humble.

The 22 Judges were sworn-in on Tuesday 23rd November 2021, in Abuja.

Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, is the daughter of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili and an in-law to former Court of Appeal Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, while Fatima Abubakar Aliyu, daughter of former Court of Appeal President Zainab Bulkachuwa, whom The Gazette learnt has never held any position before in the judiciary, was also appointed a judge of the FCT High Court. The 35-year-old worked briefly under Vice President Yemi Osinbajo a special assistant. Even then, she was working from home, saying her husband did not want her to do strenuous hours, according to her former colleagues in the presidency.

Also sworn in today are Muhammad Mustapha Adamu, Madugu Mohammed Alhaji, Kayode Agunloye, Enenche Eleojo, Nwabulu Ngozika Chineze, Sadia Mu’azu Mayana, Mimi Anne Katsina Alu-Apena, Aminu Muhammad Abdullahi and Nwecheonwu Chinyere Elewe.

Others include Ibrahim Mohammed, Kanyip Rosemary Indinya, Aliyu Yunusa Shafa, Mohammed Zubairu, Binta Dogonyaro, Adeyemi Ajayi Jadesola, Adelaja Oluyemisi Ikeolupo, Agashieze Cyprian Odinaka, Aliyu Halilu Ahmed, Hafsat Lawan Abba-Aliyu and Olufola Olufolashade Oshin.

The appointments come a year after Mr Buhari rejected the judges on the account of nepotism perception.

At least 17 of the new judges are either children or relatives of former or serving senior judges, according to findings released last year by the Open Bar Initiative, a judicial reform think-tank based in Abuja.

A spokesman for the NJC Soji Oye said the appointments were made in line with NJC rules and full awareness of the president.

Mr Oye said the 22 individuals were amongst the 33 vetted for the positions last year, but out of which only 11 were confirmed.

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