Obedience to Court order not negotiable under my watch — CJN Kekere-Ekun

The newly-inaugurated Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has vowed that obedience to court orders will not be negotiable under her watch.

She said that no individual or institution, irrespective of their standing, would be permitted to treat judgments of the court with levity or disregard.

The CJN spoke in Abuja on Monday at a special court session to mark the 2024/2025 legal year of the Supreme Court and the inauguration of the 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) held at the Supreme Court.

Justice Kekere-Ekun said, the judiciary stands resolute in ensuring that the sanctity of legal decisions is upheld in line with the rule of law.

To achieve this new narrative, the CJN canvassed that all hands must be on deck in fostering an unwavering commitment to the full enthronement of the rule of law.

According to the CJN, “Disobedience to court orders or non-compliance with judicial directives is a direct affront to democracy and an invitation to anarchy.

“As such, it is critical that we respect and observe all the features of an enduring democracy, for in doing so, we maintain the delicate balance that sustains our society.

“Let us, therefore, work together collectively and tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria continues to abide by the rule of law, upholds the best democratic practices, and remains vigilant in the protection of citizens’ rights.

“The rights of every Nigerian must be valiantly safeguarded against oppression and impunity, utilizing the full array of legal instruments at our disposal”, she said.

Maintaining that a new dawn and a new era in the Nigerian judiciary has come with her appointment, Justice Kekere-Ekun assured Nigerians of her commitment to work diligently to improve public perception of the judiciary.

She said, “Over the years, various factors have contributed to the negative image of the judiciary. However, we are determined to change the narrative and make the judiciary a source of pride for all Nigerians.

“When the legal compass of a nation falters, everything suffers, including public and international perception.The attitude of some of us in the justice sector is sometimes less than salutary, and that has contributed to the current image deficit of the country’s legal system,” she said.

The CJN condemned the forum shopping by some lawyers, which she claimed has led to the emergence of conflicting orders by courts of coordinated jurisdiction.

To address this ugly trend, the CJN vowed that there will be consequences for any act of indiscretion that could bring the judiciary to disrepute.

The CJN disclosed that the Supreme Court delivered a total of 247 judgments and rulings in the 2023/2024 legal year of the court.

She said the judgments and rulings include 74 Political cases, 92 Civil cases begun by Originating Summons, and 81 Criminal cases.

Justice Kekere-Ekun said, “The 2023/2024 legal year, which concluded on Friday, 19th July 2024, was marked by several significant milestones. On Monday, 26th February 2024, the Supreme Court made history with the appointment of 11 new Justices, marking the first time in recent years that the Court reached its full complement.

“In the last legal year, she said, the Supreme Court handled 1,124 cases, invoking both its appellate and original jurisdiction. These included 435 Civil Appeals, 269 Civil Motions, 219 Criminal Appeals, 102 Criminal Motions, 89 Political Appeals, and 10 Originating Summons.”

These cases, she noted, highlighted the judiciary’s pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic integrity and added that, the judiciary determined high-profile cases involving constitutional issues, economic crimes, and public interest litigation, while advancing reforms aimed at improving justice delivery.

She said, “Through collective efforts and divine grace, we overcame these obstacles and upheld the rule of law. As we embark on this new legal year, I am confident we are well-prepared for the challenges ahead and remain committed t enhancing the administration of justice in Nigeria.”

Kekere-Ekun urged litigants to embrace alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to ease the burden on the courts, adding that, the culture of litigating every disagreement and appealing every lost case, no matter how trivial, contributes significantly to the backlog of pending appeals in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

This trajectory, she said, is unsustainable for a nation striving for economic development and human capital growth, saying that, “Educating Nigerians on the benefits of alternative dispute resolution is a collective task for all stakeholders in the justice sector.

“In this regard, concerted efforts are being made to ensure that the Supreme Court Mediation Centre becomes operational to make the desired impact in the new legal year,” she said.

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