The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against filing frivolous and unsubstantiated petitions against judges.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Tobi Soniyi, the CJN expressed concern that many of the petitions alleging judicial corruption lack merit and are often intended to intimidate judges. She stressed that such actions undermine the credibility of the judiciary.
Responding to calls from the NBA Bar and Bench Forum for greater protection of judicial officers, Justice Kekere-Ekun urged legal professionals to defend the judiciary’s integrity rather than attack it. “Some people write petitions simply to intimidate judges,” she said, noting that judges often suffer trauma from investigations that ultimately clear them of wrongdoing.
While encouraging individuals with valid complaints to submit them to the National Judicial Council (NJC), the CJN emphasized that any accusations of corruption must be backed by “clear and credible evidence.”
She also criticized the NBA for remaining silent when unfounded allegations are made against judges and condemned the trend of lawyers criticizing court rulings on television without first reviewing the judgments.
Justice Kekere-Ekun called on senior lawyers to mentor younger colleagues and promote professionalism and discipline in the legal profession.
Richard Ahonaruogho, Chairman of the NBA Bar and Bench Forum, echoed the CJN’s concerns. He urged the NJC to dismiss frivolous petitions early and proposed that heavy costs be imposed on petitioners who misuse the system. He also called for stronger cooperation between the Bar and the Bench.