Your actions, expressions, now subject of public scrutiny, CJN cautions judges

By Vivian Okejeme

Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Monday, caution Judicial officer saying that their actions and expressions are now subject of scrutiny.

Kekere-Ekun warned judicial officers to be wary of how they carry out their adjudicatory as they are always under public scrutiny.

This was expressed in her keynote address at the opening ceremony of the national workshop on judicial ethics, organised by the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, for Judges of Superior Courts of records.

The CJN disclosed that the workshop was convened at a time when the role of the Judiciary continues to attract considerable public attention.

“Judicial actions and expressions are now subject to immediate and widespread public scrutiny.

“These realities require judicial officers to exercise heightened caution, sound judgment, and a dear understanding of the ethical boundaries of judicial engagement” the CJN stated.

She reminded participants at the workshop that the legitimacy of judicial authority depends not only on the correctness of decisions, but also on the confidence reposed in the courts by the public.

“That confidence is sustained, in large measure, by the ethical conduct of judicial officers.

“Judicial ethics therefore remains central to the administration of justice and to the preservation of
the rule of law, the CJN said.

Ethical standards in judicial office, according to the CJN extend beyond formal compliance with established rules.

She hinted that they encompass a disciplined adherence to the principles of independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, competence, and diligence.

“These principles must guide judicial conduct at all times, both within and outside the courtroom.

“The Judge must consistently act in a manner that preserves the dignity of the office and reinforces confidence in the justice system, Justice Kekere-Ekun stated.

She added that it must also be recognised that the conduct of Judges of the Superior Courts carries broader institutional implications.

Their actions, she said, frequently set standards that guide judicial practice across the Federation.

“Clear, consistent, and principled conduct contributes to coherence and predictability within the justice system, while inconsistency may weaken public trust. Strengthening ethical awareness is therefore essential to sustaining a credible and respected Judiciary, the CJN posited.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Administrator of National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo (rtd), explained that Judicial ethics is more than a professional requirement, stressing “it is a foundational pillar that sustains the very principles of the judicial system.

“It goes to the root of the effectiveness of the Judiciary and the trust the citizenry reposes in it.

Justice Adejumo said ethics is the lifeblood of the courts as well as the force that anchors the Judiciary’s role, confirming its duty as the rightful custodians of the rule of law.

Consequently, the NJI Administrator said the workshop offers the Lordships a platform to revisit these fundamental norms and their profound effect on both your professional and personal lives.