Conflicting court orders: CJN vows to deal with errant judges

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, expressed strong disapproval on Wednesday regarding the conflicting judgments issued by courts of coordinate jurisdictions. He said the National Judicial Council (NJC) had initiated steps to ensure that errant judges faced the consequences of their “despicable and odious conduct.” During the inauguration ceremony for 22 Court […]

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, expressed strong disapproval on Wednesday regarding the conflicting judgments issued by courts of coordinate jurisdictions.

He said the National Judicial Council (NJC) had initiated steps to ensure that errant judges faced the consequences of their “despicable and odious conduct.”

During the inauguration ceremony for 22 Court of Appeal justices and 12 FCT High Court judges in Abuja, Justice Ariwoola lamented the numerous frivolous interlocutory orders from various courts, which he said had made a mockery of the judicial system.

He reminded the newly inaugurated judges that their primary duty was to serve the people, not their interests, and emphasised that judgments should be free from personal sentiments, emotions or ulterior motives.

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He said, “I have made it known at different forums that we have been treated to an unpalatable cocktail of misleading and conflicting judgments as well as frivolous interlocutory orders from courts of coordinate jurisdictions, which have attempted to mock our judicial system and desecrate the revered Temple of Justice. Several cases of such exist across the country. This is a significant embarrassment to our jurisprudence, and we will not handle it lightly

“Punitive measures must be meted out to such erring judges. We have already activated the process of reining in such errant judges with a view to making them face the consequences of their despicable and odious conduct.”

He noted that the inauguration marked the largest swearing in of justices for the Court of Appeal since the ceremonies on June 28, 2021, and November 5, 2012, which saw 18 and 12 justices appointed respectively.