S/Court justice charges women judges on integrity of judiciary

A justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Amina Augie, has called on women judges in the West Africa sub region to uphold the integrity of the judiciary saying “without good judges, there can be no democratic state.” Augie said this in her address titled ‘The Role of Female Judges in the West African […]

A justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Amina Augie, has called on women judges in the West Africa sub region to uphold the integrity of the judiciary saying “without good judges, there can be no democratic state.”

Augie said this in her address titled ‘The Role of Female Judges in the West African Judiciary”’ at the first West African Sub-Regional Women Judges’ Conference organised by the National Association of Women Judges, Nigeria (NAWJN) and the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ).

She said the real and ultimate power of the judiciary lies not only in its independence and integrity but also in the esteem which that generated within the mind and hearts of the people affected by its judgments. 

The apex court judge said members of the judiciary are expected to come to the bench with clean hands and minds, and also display the highest levels of integrity, moral aptitude and judicial impartiality. “These judicial ideals are expected of those called to hold office as judge, irrespective of sex or gender,” she said.

She said that members of the judiciary, whether male or female, must always be conscious of the fact that without good judges, there can be no democratic state.

She urged the judges to make their courtrooms a safe environment, especially for victims of child abuse, child neglect, spousal abuse, rape victims and victims of other heinous crimes. 

“And in writing our judgements, we must seek to interpret the law justly, fairly and expeditiously to ensure that justice is not delayed,” she added.

In her welcome address, the President of NAWJN, Justice Uwani Abba Aji, said the conference was aimed at continuing to promote dialogue among women judges in West Africa on how best they could effectively contribute to enhancing the protection of human rights for women and girls.

At the end of the conference, NAJWN in its communiqué called on African governments to domesticate international conventions that promote the rights of inheritance for women and children born under vulnerable circumstances.