The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges against political associations that could cast doubt on their neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
She gave the warning on Monday, October 12, in Abuja during the opening of the Supreme Court’s 2026 Legal Year, urging judicial officers to remain impartial and avoid any conduct that might suggest sympathy for a political party or candidate.
Kekere-Ekun noted that election-related disputes often attract intense emotions and political pressure because of their implications for individuals, political parties and the country. She stressed that judges must approach such cases calmly and strictly in line with the law.
“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 questionable political associations and uphold their oaths of office and the Constitution.
She also cautioned lawyers against forum shopping, a practice in which litigants seek out courts they believe may favour their cases or file similar suits in different courts. According to her, the practice can lead to conflicting court orders and weaken public confidence in the justice system.
Kekere-Ekun called on legal practitioners to disclose related cases pending before other courts and respect established judicial processes. She warned that the growing number of political cases could also delay the resolution of other matters, denying litigants timely justice.
She maintained that lawyers had a responsibility not only to protect their clients’ interests but also to preserve the integrity of the justice system.
On the appointment of judicial officers, the CJN underscored the importance of maintaining credible and transparent processes handled by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
She said recent appointments had involved structured assessments, professional and peer reviews, background checks and opportunities for members of the public to comment on shortlisted candidates’ integrity and professional records.
However, she warned against turning the process into a means of settling personal or professional scores or subjecting candidates to public trials.
The CJN also condemned the growing use of social media to attack, ridicule, threaten and harass members of the legal profession. She urged those with complaints about court judgments or the conduct of judicial officers and lawyers to use the appropriate channels.
“The administration of justice cannot be left to anger, intimidation or trial by social media,” she said.
Kekere-Ekun stressed that judges must be free to make decisions without fear of retaliation, while lawyers should be able to present legitimate arguments without intimidation. She added that court staff must also be protected from harassment, describing the preservation of the legal profession’s dignity as a shared responsibility of the Bench and the Bar.
Meanwhile, the CJN expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s performance during the 2025/2026 Legal Year but acknowledged that more needed to be done to reduce delays and tackle the backlog of cases.
She disclosed that the court handled 2,456 matters and delivered 411 judgments during the period, compared with 2,280 matters and 369 judgments and rulings in the preceding Legal Year.
The matters handled included 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 summons.
Kekere-Ekun said the figures reflected the court’s workload but did not fully capture the efforts required to address delays and pending cases.
She recalled that she had highlighted the need for deliberate case-management measures during the previous Legal Year’s opening, adding that the court had since taken steps to improve the situation.
According to her, the E-Diary Office scheduled 1,385 matters for regular court sittings between March 23 and December 17, 2026. These included 1,021 motions and 364 appeals, with 733 old matters deliberately brought forward for hearing.
She added that the court disposed of 178 dormant matters in Chambers and identified 125 cases that had already been concluded, removing them from the active caseload.
The CJN said the measures were part of ongoing efforts to improve case management, reduce delays and ensure that pending cases received the attention they deserved.
