By Mustapha Ogunsakin
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges against fraternising with political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging them to maintain strict impartiality in resolving electoral disputes.
Kekere-Ekun used her speech at the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year to set the Judicial agenda for the conduct of judges in the coming 2027 election season warning that judicial officers must not engage in any conduct capable of compromising public confidence in the judiciary.
She said electoral disputes often generated intense political activity and emotions, with court decisions carrying significant consequences for individuals, political parties and the country.
“The judiciary must approach such matters with the same calmness, detachment and fidelity to the law that it brings to every other dispute. “Judicial officers must remain conscious that every word they speak and every action they take during an electoral period will be subjected to scrutiny,” she said.
The CJN urged judges to exercise restraint, avoid political associations and shun conduct capable of creating an appearance of bias, insisting that they must remain within the boundaries set by their oath of office and the Constitution.
She also cautioned lawyers against forum shopping and the filing of multiple cases seeking substantially similar reliefs in different courts, warning that such practices could lead to conflicting orders, disrupt judicial proceedings and expose the judiciary to avoidable embarrassment.
According to her, the practice could create the impression that litigants were seeking favourable outcomes from particular courts rather than justice under the law. “It does not augur well for our judicial system if the courts become so overwhelmed by political disputes that other cases in their dockets are consequently delayed or denied the timely attention they require,” she said.
Kekere-Ekun maintained that the urgency or public prominence of electoral litigation must not come at the expense of other litigants awaiting the determination of their cases. She urged counsel to exercise sound professional judgment before instituting proceedings, particularly where related cases were already pending before another court.
“The duty of counsel to the court requires full candour as to the existence of related proceedings and respect for the jurisdiction and processes of other courts;
The responsibility of counsel extends beyond securing an immediate advantage for a client; it includes a duty to protect the integrity and orderly functioning of the judicial process,” she added.
CJN seeks protection of judicial appointment process
The Supreme Court chief also called for the protection of the processes for appointing judicial officers, saying the procedures must be transparent, credible and insulated from abuse. She described the appointment of judicial officers as one of the most consequential responsibilities entrusted to the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
“A judge does not merely occupy an office; he or she carries the authority of the Constitution and the confidence of the people; for that reason, the processes through which judicial officers are selected must command public confidence,” she said.
Kekere-Ekun said recent appointments had reflected deliberate efforts to strengthen the assessment of candidates through structured evaluations, professional and peer feedback, background checks and opportunities for members of the public to comment on the integrity and professional reputation of shortlisted candidates.
However, she warned that the process must not be abused or turned into a trial by publicity or an avenue for settling personal and professional scores.
She also expressed concern over the growing use of social media to turn professional disagreements into personal attacks, ridicule, threats and harassment.
“There are proper channels for criticising judgments, reporting professional misconduct and complaining about the conduct of judicial officers or legal practitioners,” she said.
The CJN stressed that the administration of justice must not be surrendered to anger, intimidation or trials by social media. “A judge should be able to decide according to law without fear of personal retaliation. A lawyer should be able to make a legitimate submission without being subjected to intimidation.
“A member of staff should be able to perform his or her duties without harassment. The dignity of the profession is the collective responsibility of the Bench and the Bar,” she said.
Supreme Court delivers 411 judgments
Kekere-Ekun expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s performance during the 2025/2026 legal year, although she acknowledged that more work remained to be done. She disclosed that the court handled 2,456 matters during the period, comprising 1,179 general civil motions, 573 criminal motions, 13 Sharia-related motions and 676 appeals.
The appeals comprised 433 general civil appeals, 212 criminal appeals, 19 political appeals, 12 Sharia appeals and 10 originating summonses. She said the court delivered 411 judgments during the period, compared with 369 judgments and rulings from 2,280 matters handled in the preceding legal year.
While describing the figures as an indication of the court’s institutional activity, the CJN said they did not tell the full story of its efforts to improve case management and reduce the backlog of pending cases. She recalled raising concerns about delays and the accumulation of unresolved matters at the previous legal year’s opening, adding that steps had since been taken to address the problem.
Kekere-Ekun disclosed that between March 23 and December 27, 2026, the E-Diary Office scheduled 1,385 matters for regular sittings of the court, comprising 1,021 motions and 364 appeals. Of the scheduled matters, 733 were old cases deliberately brought forward for hearing.
She added that 178 dormant matters were disposed of in chambers, while 125 cases that had already been concluded were identified and removed from the active caseload.
The CJN said the measures formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen case management, reduce delays and ensure that litigants received timely justice.
Dear readers, we really need your support to keep on serving you with authoritative, truthful, and juicy stories everyday. For your support, please reach out to the editor @gavelinternational66@gmail.com