Beware of ‘landmines’, CJN Ariwoola warns new Federal High Court judges
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, yesterday, urged new judges to be wary of “landmines” on their paths, even as he encouraged them to uphold integrity while discharging their duties.
“I heartily rejoice with you on this very important and sensitive appointment. But at the same time, I sincerely sympathise with you for the landmines that already lay on your paths in the course of your adjudication, especially, if your conscience is at variance with your conduct,” the CJN told 23 judges of the Federal High Court, who were sworn in, yesterday, at the Supreme Court in Abuja.
“The bench is neither for the indolent, the greedy nor those with dubious character, who can easily fall for a plate of porridge offered by desperate litigants. You must, at all times, rise above temptations and trials that might obstruct or even halt your rise to the pinnacle of your career,” he said.
The CJN affirmed that public opinion, no matter how intense, cannot displace Nigeria’s Constitution. He, therefore, charged the judges to always apply its provisions when deciding cases.
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Notwithstanding, he said judicial officers still owe their conscience and the generality of Nigerian masses, particularly those who are looking up to them, the responsibility of moral rectitude and acceptable conduct.
Ariwoola said by virtue of the oath they had taken, they have assumed new status and responsibilities in life. “A new blank page in the book of life has just been opened for you; and as it is with public office, especially the judiciary, you are completely opened to daily public scrutiny,” he said.
The new judges are: Dipeolu Deinde Isaac (from Ogun State); Ogundare Kehinde Olayiwola (Ekiti); Agbaje Olufunmilola Adetutu (Lagos); Musa Kakaki (Kaduna); Abdullahi Muhammad Dan-Ige (Sokoto); Sharon Tanko Ishaya (Kebbi); Salim Olasupo Ibrahim (Ogun); Yilwa Hauwa Joseph (Gombe); Wigwe-Oreh Chituru Joy (Rivers); Owoeye Alexander Oluseyi (Kogi); Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa (Benue); and Amina Aliyu Mohammad (Katsina).
Others are: Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi (Kwara); Hauwa Buhari (Federal Capital Territory); Aishatu Auta Ibrahim (Borno); Hussaini Dadan-Garba (Bauchi); Ibrahim Ahmad Kala (Gombe); Mashkur Salisu (Zamfara); Onah Chigozie Sergius (Enugu); Egbe Raphael Joshua (Bayelsa); Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr. (Oyo); Ekerete Udofot Akpan (Akwa Ibom); and Ogazi Friday Nkemakonam (Ebonyi).
