- Defend Judiciary’s Integrity, Tinubu implores Kekere-Ekun
- Agbakoba Calls For Radical Reforms Within The Judiciary
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As Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun begins her tenure as the Chief Justice of Nigeria following her swearing in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday, the issue of Judicial reform has been identified as the major task before Her Lordship by stakeholders in the judicial ecosystem.
This is even as it was lamented that the the last attempt to overhaul the Judicial system was during Justice Dahiru Musdapher in 2011-2012 with a focus on case management.
Despite setting up a 29-member committee that produced a transformational report and presenting these reforms to then-Senate President David Mark, the efforts were largely forgotten after Musdapher left office.
The Matrix reports that President Tinubu on Friday August 23, 2024 sworn in Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the acting chief justice of nigeria (CJN).
Shortly after the swearing in ceremony, Tinubu urged the CJN to strengthen mechanisms for integrity and transparency in the judiciary.
The president lauded Kekere-Ekun’s record and reputation within the bar, saying her meritorious rise from magistrate to justice of the supreme court is a testament to her talent.
“Undoubtedly the position of the CJN comes with enormous responsibilities as the head of all judicial institutions in the country,” he said.
“It is a position of considerable influence that demands temperance and sobriety. The occupant must espouse the highest level of integrity in the discharge of duties. This is more so because of the finality of the supreme court judgment.
“I, therefore, urge your lordship to be faithful and loyal to the constitution when discharging your duty as the acting chief justice of Nigeria.
“I also encourage you to defend the judiciary’s independence, always promote the course of justice, strengthen mechanisms for integrity, discipline, and transparency in the judicial sector, and pursue other reforms or initiatives to sustain public confidence in the judiciary.”
Tinubu added that his administration will continue to provide appropriate support to improve the welfare and capacity of the judiciary, ease the administration of justice, and promote the rule of law.
Kekere-Ekun succeeds Olukayode Ariwoola, the immediate past CJN, who bowed out of office on August 22, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The senate would have to confirm her in line with section 231, subsection 1 of the constitution.
Speaking on the task before the CJN, Olisa Agbakoba, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) emphasised the urgent need for transformational judicial reforms in the country.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) urged the newly inaugurated CJN to embark on such reforms as her potential legacy.
In a statement released on Friday, Agbakoba called for radical reforms within the judiciary, noting that the swearing-in ceremony should not just be a formality but an opportunity to initiate meaningful change.
Agbakoba highlighted that the last significant attempt at judicial reform was by the Late Justice Dahiru Musdapher, who, during his tenure as CJN, sought to overhaul the judicial system with a focus on case management.
Despite setting up a 29-member committee that produced a transformational report and presenting these reforms to then-Senate President David Mark, the efforts were largely forgotten after Musdapher left office.
Agbakoba urged Justice Kekere-Ekun to pursue these long-overdue reforms, making them a defining part of her tenure.
His statement emphasized that the potential legacy of the new CJN lies in implementing radical and transformational reforms that would fundamentally change how the courts operate.
“We are witnessing yet another ritual of handing over of the Judicial baton with the swearing in of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
But it’s not about swearing-in. It’s about whether we will see radical reforms finally.
The last great reform CJN was the Late Dahiru Musdapher! I was his consultant on Speed of Justice. Unfortunately CJN Musdapher only had six months in office. He set up a high powered 29-person committee that produced a transformational report.
“The late CJN led a team to the then president of the senate, David Mark, to present far reaching reforms to the constitutional structure of the Judiciary. As soon as the CJN turned his back, everyone forgot about it.
“The potential legacy of the new CJN is transformational and radical reforms with the fundamental objective of case management driving how the courts work.”
On his part, a Professor of Law, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN in his submission advised the new CJN not to do anything that would make Nigerians emotional but make the principle of equity, fairness and justice her watchword.
Ojukwu also wants the court to devise a means of removing itself from election cases so that leaders would be the true choices of the electorates and not the court.
