CJN to judges: Refrain from acts that will embarrass judiciary, Nigeria
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has warned judicial officers not to engage on any act that will embarrass the judiciary and the country.
Justice Onnoghen, who gave the warning on Saturday in Abuja while swearing in Justice Adamu Abdu Kafarati as the Acting Chief Judge of Federal High Court , also urged judges not to be intimidated by any one.
The CJN added that judges are guided by their oath of office, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the laws.
He said, “Any judge who did not abide by the oath will have himself or herself to blame because the authority would not spare or tolerate any misdeeds.
” Judges primary duty is to uphold the constitution, interpret the laws and ensure justice to all no matter the situation. An unbiased application of the laws will ensure that the rule of law thrives in the country. It will also ensure its unity as injustice breaches the peace.
The CJN therefore urged the judges to ensure that the judiciary is return “to its old good days” of high integrity and respect.
He stressed that they would achieve justice by being fair and firm with the law, saying that, “Your duty is to say who is wrong and who is right and apportion the prescribed punishment.”
Justice Onnoghen explained that Justice Kafarati was sworn in on Saturday to avoid a vacuum because his immediate predecessor, Justice Ibrahim Auta’s tenure as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court expired at 12 midnight on Friday, September 15, 2017.
Justice Kafarati was born in 1954 in Kwami of Gombe State. He attended Kafarati Primary School from January 1962 to December 1968.
He had his secondary education at Government Secondary School Gombe from January 1969 to June 1973 and proceeded to North East College of Arts and Science, Maiduguri, from October 1973 to June 1975.
He read law at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, from October 1975 to 1978 and attended the Nigerian Law School from October 1978 to July 1979.
He was later appointed as a judge of the Federal High Court on October 31, 1991
