Judges should exercise prudence when dealing with cases pertaining to the 2027 general election, according to Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Among other things, Justice Kekere-Ekun cautioned them against promoting forum shopping, abusing ex parte orders, and handing down contradicting verdicts.
At the opening ceremony of the Federal High Court’s 2025/2026 legal year and the court’s 41st annual judges’ conference, she spoke today in Abuja, according to The Nation.
The Judiciary will be re-asked with stabilizing the nation in the upcoming 2027 general elections, according to Justice Kekere-Ekun.
Disputes arising out of elections must be resolved in a methodical and consistent fashion, with due regard for the deadlines set forth by the Constitution and other statutes.
In times of crisis, the public looks to the judicial system for reassurance and impartiality. In settling disputes before elections, this court plays an important role.
The public’s faith in the court system is eroded when there are conflicting interim orders, instances of forum shopping, and instances of ex parte procedures being abused.
Thus, division heads must forcefully and fairly implement procedural discipline.
According to her, the Judiciary should always be seen as a place of constitutional order and never as a stage for political maneuvering.
Judicial officers should actively manage cases and direct processes, Justice Kekere-Ekun said, and judges should seek for ways to avoid delays.
In order to promote efficiency and institutional discipline, she stated that the National Judicial Council (NJC) would persist in enhancing supervision of case advancement.
Because a judge who is afraid for his or her safety cannot confidently administer justice, the CJN reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to enhancing judicial officers’ working conditions, infrastructure, research support, and safety.
Justice delivery relies on timeliness, consistency in court sittings, and open communication with plaintiffs and counsel, as pointed out by the CJN, who also said that unpredictable or inefficient court processes could derail even well-reasoned decisions.
The speaker emphasized that their opinions are a reflection of their authority and credibility, which are determined by how they carried out their responsibilities.
Judgment independence must be based on accountability, bravery, and moral clarity, the CJN emphasized, while praising the Federal High Court judges for professionally carrying out their duties amid increasing pressure and public scrutiny.
When it came to changes, Justice Kekere-Ekun saw digitization as an essential institutional priority rather than a nice-to-have. She pushed for more electronic case tracking, secure digital records, virtual hearings, and e-filing to make the courts more efficient and accountable to the public.
Justice John Tsoho, chief judge of the federal high court, was pleased with the court’s work last year in its attempts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery.
The number of pending cases increased from 161,999 at the conclusion of the 2023/2024 legal year to 181,924 at the end of the 2024/2025 legal year, according to Justice Tsoho. During this time, 19,925 cases were filed, bringing the total number of cases to 18,924.
“Motions amounted to 3,724 and fundamental human rights cases to 3,364, while a total of 16,019 were disposed of, leaving 165,905 pending,” he stated, adding that 3,113 were civil cases, 5,818 were criminal cases, and 3,113 were disposed of.
At the conclusion of the last fiscal year, there were a grand total of 30,949 applications to enforce basic rights, 44,650 civil cases, 44,078 criminal cases, 46228 motions, and the Chief Judge’s statement.
He announced that, with the CJN’s and the NJC chairman’s blessing, the process of adding fourteen more judges to the court’s bench has progressed to a more advanced stage.
According to Afam Osigwe (SAN), president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Federal High Court is crucial to national development and investor confidence because of the topics it has jurisdiction over. These matters determine the country’s economic, regulatory, and constitutional framework.
The rule of law is undermined when people believe that partisanship shapes judicial proceedings, according to Osigwe, who emphasized the need of court judges being watchful against any form of political capture or manipulation.
He emphasized that the Judiciary must be vigilant in protecting its independence because its power does not come from coercion but from the public’s trust in its impartiality.
He emphasized that the Federal High Court’s authority cannot be used to replace internal democracy, party discipline, or political will, and that not all disagreements within political parties can be resolved through litigation.
According to him, the court’s docket should not be used as a platform for political leadership or factional supremacy.
The Head of the Nigerian Bar Association (BOSAN), Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), recently reminded judges that “the Law is what the Judges say,” and he asked them to “be bold, strong, and of good courage” while carrying out their duties.
The work of the Judiciary becomes more urgent and crucial due to the current dominance of one political party, which has almost eradicated opposition, according to Agabi.
The nation’s hope rests in the judiciary, thus he urged judges to be courageous, truthful, and creative when deciding political cases.
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