Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Monday urged judges to shun corruption in order to align themselves with the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration’s anti-graft stride.

Onnoghen, who spoke in Abuja, also urged them to ensure an independent, strong, respectable and responsible judiciary by adhering to their oath of office as contained in the constitution and Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

“Let me also seize this opportunity to remind us as ministers in the temple of justice, we must shun all corrupt practices in order to align ourselves with the anti-corruption strides of the current administration,” he said.

He spoke at the 2016 Conference of All Nigerian Judges of the Lower Courts, held at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja.

The event was with the theme, ‘The lower courts as veritable instruments for justice and peace in a democratic society.’

The event was the first official outing of Justice Onnoghen since November 10 when he was sworn in by President Buhari as the acting CJN to take over from the immediate past CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed (retd.).

Speaking at the NJI event on Monday, Justice Onnoghen, who doubles as the Chairman of NJI, described judges as guardians of the rule of law.

He urged judges to adhere strictly to their oath of office and dispense justice promptly and without fear, favour or ill-will.

He said, “It is pertinent to note that an independent, strong, respectable and responsible judiciary is indispensable to the administration of justice and to have such an institution, we must adhere to our oath of office as contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

“As impartial arbiters, we must at all times uphold the rule of law, eliminate unnecessary delays and above all ensure that justice is dispensed promptly, without fear or favour, affection and ill-will to both parties in accordance with the provisions of the law.”

He described lower court judges as closest to the grass roots and with “the compliment of being the first line of defence for the liberties of citizen.”

He urged the judges to remain incorruptible despite the challenges which they faced “in the areas of inadequate funding, infrastructure and facilities, caseload volume, corrupt practices and most significantly delays in relation to criminal trials, which have contributed to the congestion of our prisons.”

The Administrator of NJI, Justice Roseline Bozimo (retd.), who congratulated Justice Onnoghen, on his recent appointment, urged judges to uphold the rule of substantial justice in their decisions as against technicalities of the law.

According to her, upholding substantial justice, often celebrated by the society helped to promote peach and ensure sustainable democracy while decisions based on technicalities of law could provoke conflict or violence.

She acknowledged that the Nigerian judiciary had always come out of its high and low moments stronger.

She said the developments in the judiciary had shown that the judiciary would always uphold substantial justice rather than technicalities of law.

She said “In the 16 years of democratic rule in this our dear country, it can be said that the Nigerian judiciary has witnessed both its low and high moments but in all, the judiciary has always come out stronger.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

michael142:
Good morning zoo people

Islamicpope:
No problem let them continue to be corrupt. They should ask justice NGWUTA, AUTA, ADETOKUNBO and their LIKES if there life's has ever remained d same after d EFCC raid

Atiku2019:





#Atiku2019

Aufbauh:


It seems you're frustrated because the acting CJN is canvassing support for the fight against corruption by President Buhari.

Anyway say me hi to the proponent of the zoo in kuje, The prisoner of pre-war Mazi nnamdi kanu the commander that was captured before his declaration of war.

Boleyndynasty2:
When the Head is corrupt what do you expect from the tail?

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

michael142:
Good morning zoo people