Precious Nwonu, Enugu

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned judges against political pressure, forum shopping and the issuance of conflicting court orders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kekere-Ekun said election-related disputes often place the judiciary under intense public scrutiny, making it essential for judicial officers to remain impartial and uphold the law.

She spoke on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 2026 Roundtable for Heads of Courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute.

The CJN urged heads of courts to ensure that politically sensitive cases were handled fairly and efficiently, without allowing public opinion or pressure from interested parties to influence judicial decisions.

She said the urgency or political sensitivity of a case must not override the Constitution, the Electoral Act or established court procedures.

Kekere-Ekun also called on judicial leaders to establish effective administrative arrangements for managing election-related cases before and during the polls.

She warned judges against granting orders based on incomplete information, concealing related proceedings or entertaining applications intended to secure favourable rulings from different courts.

According to her, forum shopping undermines consistency in judicial decisions, encourages abuse of court processes and exposes the judiciary to unnecessary controversy.

“No litigant should be permitted to manipulate the judicial system in search of a favourable decision,” she said, adding that public confidence in the courts would be tested during the election period.

The CJN urged heads of courts to ensure that existing procedural safeguards were followed and that attempts to circumvent judicial processes were addressed appropriately.

## CJN Raises Concern Over Delayed Justice

Beyond election disputes, Kekere-Ekun identified delays in the administration of justice as a major challenge facing the judiciary.

She said prolonged proceedings place financial and emotional burdens on litigants, reduce the practical value of court decisions and weaken public confidence in the justice system.

While acknowledging that inadequate funding, infrastructure and judicial manpower contribute to delays, she said some problems could be addressed through better court administration.

She identified poor case scheduling, repeated adjournments, ineffective docket management and failure to monitor inactive cases as factors that unnecessarily prolong proceedings.

The CJN urged heads of courts to regularly review pending cases, identify matters that had remained unresolved for long periods and develop practical strategies to reduce backlogs.

She said judicial leaders should know the number of pending cases in their courts, how long the cases had remained unresolved and the reasons for the delays.

However, Kekere-Ekun cautioned against assessing judicial performance solely by the number of cases disposed of, stressing that efficiency must not come at the expense of fair hearing.

She said cases must be determined competently, fairly and within a reasonable period while protecting the rights of all parties.

## Merit-Based Judicial Appointments

The CJN also called for transparent and merit-based judicial appointments, urging heads of courts to resist external pressure and prioritise competence, character and suitability.

She said public confidence in the judiciary depended partly on the credibility of the processes through which judges were selected.

Kekere-Ekun further urged judicial leaders to promote professional standards, strengthen accountability and support the continuous development of judicial officers.

On punctuality, she directed heads of courts to ensure that judges commenced sittings on time and that lawyers and litigants were promptly informed of cancelled or rescheduled proceedings.

She described punctuality as a professional obligation, warning that it was unacceptable for litigants and lawyers to travel long distances at considerable expense only to discover that their cases would not be heard.

She called on court registries to establish reliable systems for communicating changes to sitting schedules.

The CJN also stressed the need for respectful conduct in courtrooms, saying judicial authority should be exercised with fairness, composure and dignity.

She maintained that every litigant deserved respectful treatment regardless of social status, financial means or educational background, while lawyers should also be treated courteously.

Kekere-Ekun urged heads of courts to ensure that courtrooms remained professional spaces free from bullying and harassment.

She also advocated sustained investment in judicial support personnel, including registrars, research officers, administrative staff and information technology workers.

In addition, she recommended structured mentorship programmes through which newly appointed judges could work with experienced judicial officers for a defined period before sitting independently.

## NJI Administrator Calls for Judicial Leadership

Earlier, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute and retired President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said the judiciary remained under constant public scrutiny because of its responsibility to uphold justice and the rule of law.

Adejumo said judicial leaders had a duty to protect the institution’s reputation and promote public confidence in the justice system.

He described the annual roundtable as an opportunity for heads of courts to discuss shared challenges and develop collective solutions.

According to him, the programme was designed to limit external intervention and allow judicial leaders to guide discussions and determine their outcomes.

The retired judge also commended Kekere-Ekun for reforms he said had strengthened judicial independence and improved integrity across the judiciary.