In a powerful appeal to legal practitioners across the country, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take up the responsibility of safeguarding the integrity and independence of the judiciary. Her call comes amidst growing concerns over the increasing number of frivolous and unfounded petitions against judicial officers.
Speaking during an engagement with members of the NBA Bar and Bench Forum, Justice Kekere-Ekun expressed dismay over the disturbing trend of using baseless corruption allegations to harass and intimidate judges. According to a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Tobi Soniyi, the Chief Justice lamented that these unverified claims often leave innocent judges emotionally and professionally traumatised, even after being cleared of wrongdoing.
"Judges are not superhumans. They suffer psychological strain when falsely accused. It is unjust to vilify them without evidence," the CJN declared. She stressed that while the judiciary remains open to scrutiny, any allegations of misconduct must be supported with clear, factual evidence. She further encouraged genuine whistleblowers to channel complaints properly through the National Judicial Council (NJC), while warning against the use of petitions as tools of vendetta or manipulation.
Justice Kekere-Ekun also took a swipe at legal practitioners who criticize court judgments on television without reading or understanding the ratio decidendi of the rulings. She warned that such hasty and uninformed commentary undermines public trust in the judiciary and erodes the rule of law. "It is disturbing when lawyers take to the airwaves to disparage judgments they have not even read," she said.
The Honourable CJN called on senior advocates and seasoned lawyers to take their mentorship roles seriously by guiding younger colleagues to uphold the ethics, discipline, and decorum expected of the legal profession.
Echoing her concerns, the Chairman of the NBA Bar and Bench Forum, Dr. Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, also condemned the prevalence of spurious petitions. He appealed to the NJC to strengthen its screening mechanism to weed out baseless accusations before they consume valuable institutional time and resources. "Frivolous petitions do not just waste time; they endanger the credibility of the judiciary," Dr. Ahonaruogho stated.
The exchange underscores the urgent need for both the Bench and the Bar to collaborate more closely in restoring confidence in Nigeria’s justice system—especially at a time when public trust in institutions is steadily waning.
By raising these critical issues, Justice Kekere-Ekun has not only defended the integrity of the Bench but has also challenged the Bar to rise to its noble duty: to be custodians of justice, not just critics from the sidelines.