CJN cautions new judges against corruption

                                             Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alooma Mukhtar
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alooma Mukhtar, has cautioned newly appointed judges of the High Court and Customary Courts of Appeal along with Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal to shun corrupt practices and indolence.

Mukhtar spoke in Abuja on Monday during the opening session of this year’s induction course for about 38 newly appointed judges and khadis. The theme of the event is ‘Nurturing high standards of judicial performance’.

The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Umaru Eri, who also spoke at the event, urged the new judges to shun corruption and other unethical conduct to enhance public confidence in the Judiciary.

Mukhtar and Eri observed that corrupt practices and other unethical conduct by judges were not only a violation of their oath of office, but capable of destroying the judicial system.

The CJN urged them to urgently imbibe the good conduct expected of judicial officers of their status, adding that a deviation from such conduct could result in devastating consequences for the judge and the entire Judiciary.

She said, “The Nigeria judiciary can no longer condone indolence, ineptitude, corruption or any form of judicial misconduct. As new judicial officers, your future is in your hands. Do your work well and you will have nothing to fear, but a lot to gain.

“However, if you choose the corrupt and dishonourable way or become indolent and unproductive, more of a liability than an asset, you can only have yourself to blame because the consequences will not be pleasing, though deserving.”

Eri urged the judges to support all efforts to rid the society of corruption and other vices by shunning corrupt acts themselves.

He also called on judges to treat with urgency, cases relating to economic crime and corruption brought before them, as a way to aiding the fight against corruption.

He added, “And, in order to be able to establish and sustain public confidence in the judicial process, judges themselves must be above board, shun corruption, and avoid corrupt practices and other misconduct. You are all advised to stay on the side of caution.”

Eri drew the attention of the judges to the provision of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, which frown on abuse of powers associated with granting of ex-parte orders without regard to the inconvenience that might result from their decisions.

He added, “A word is enough for the wise. And furthermore, be mindful of the fact that granting of frivolous adjournments in cases before you will not only cause undue delay in trial, but will impact negatively on the evaluation of your performance by the National Judicial Council.

“Poor performance amounts to gross indiscipline, which also attracts disciplinary action by the NJC.