Due to pointless petitions against judges, CJN warns the NBA

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Nigeria’s Chief Justice, has warned the Nigerian Bar Association not to file pointless applications against judges. Numerous petitions accusing judges of corruption are frequently false, frivolous, and devoid of substance, according to the CJN. Tobi Soniyi, the Senior Special Assistant to the CJN on Media, made the claims in a statement on Tuesday. Soniyi claims that the CJN encouraged lawyers to uphold the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary rather than trash it in response to requests for increased safety for judicial officers made by members of the NBA Bar and Bench Forum.

The CJN highlighted that “some people write petitions against judges simply to intimidate them.” She expressed worry that judges are often traumatised after being investigated, only to be exonerated when no wrongdoing is uncovered. Nonetheless, the CJN urged anyone who had legitimate complaints against judges to submit them to the National Judicial Council.

Justice Kekere-Ekun warned that “anyone accusing judges of corruption must support the allegation with clear and credible evidence.”

She also expressed disappointment at the NBA’s silence when frivolous allegations are made against judges.

The CJN further criticised the practice of lawyers appearing on television to slam judges without first reading court judgments to understand the reasoning behind the decisions.

She called on senior counsel to mentor young lawyers, fostering discipline and professionalism within the legal profession.

The Chairman of the NBA Bar and Bench Forum, Richard Ahonaruogho, echoed the CJN’s concerns. He advised the NJC to screen petitions against judges to discard frivolous ones and avoid wasting the council’s time.

Ahonaruogho suggested imposing heavy costs for frivolous petitions to discourage the practice. He also appealed for the CJN’s support in fostering mutual respect between the Bar and the Bench.