CJN WARNS JUDGES AGAINST FORUM SHOPPING, CONFLICTING ORDERS AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTIONS

By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged heads of courts and other judicial officers to guard against forum shopping, concealment of related proceedings and attempts to obtain conflicting court orders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kekere-Ekun said election-related disputes often attract intense public interest and considerable pressure on the judiciary, requiring judges to remain impartial and strictly adhere to the law.

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

The CJN said the judiciary must be prepared to handle politically sensitive cases without allowing public sentiment or pressure from any quarter to influence judicial decisions.

“The judiciary must be prepared to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with impartiality, courage and fidelity to the law.

“Political sensitivity, public sentiment or the urgency with which a matter is presented must never displace the careful application of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the applicable rules of court,” she said.

Kekere-Ekun urged heads of courts to establish appropriate administrative arrangements for the timely and orderly handling of election-related cases.

She called on judicial officers to scrutinise applications carefully, demand full disclosure of relevant facts and pay attention to related proceedings, warning against attempts to use urgent applications or ex-parte orders to gain improper advantages.

“The integrity of judicial proceedings must not be compromised by competing political interests or pressure from any quarter,” she added.

Describing forum shopping as particularly damaging to the judiciary, the CJN said the practice undermined consistency, encouraged abuse of court processes and exposed the institution to avoidable public controversy.

She urged heads of courts to ensure compliance with established procedural safeguards and take appropriate action whenever attempts to circumvent judicial processes were discovered.

“No litigant should be permitted to manipulate the judicial system in search of a favourable decision. Public confidence in the judiciary will be tested during this period,” she said.

The CJN also stressed the responsibility of heads of courts to ensure that election-related cases were handled competently, expeditiously and in accordance with the law.

On delays in justice delivery, Kekere-Ekun described prolonged proceedings as one of the major challenges confronting the judiciary, noting that they impose financial and emotional burdens on litigants, diminish the value of judicial remedies and weaken public confidence.

While acknowledging that inadequate funding, infrastructure and judicial manpower contributed to delays, she said some causes could be addressed through effective court administration.

“Inefficient docket management, repeated adjournments, poor scheduling and failure to monitor inactive cases can prolong proceedings unnecessarily,” she said.

She urged heads of courts to monitor their caseloads, identify long-pending cases and develop strategies to reduce backlogs.

According to her, every head of court should have a clear understanding of the number of pending cases, their age, the categories experiencing the longest delays and the reasons for their continued pendency.

She said such information should guide the allocation of hearing dates, backlog reduction efforts and the prompt removal of concluded matters from active court dockets.

However, Kekere-Ekun cautioned against measuring judicial efficiency solely by the number of cases disposed of, stressing that fairness and the protection of litigants’ rights must remain central to justice delivery.

“Efficiency, however, must not be measured solely by the number of cases disposed of. It requires cases to be determined fairly, competently and within a reasonable time, with the right to fair hearing fully protected,” she said.

On judicial appointments, the CJN called for transparent, fair and merit-based selection processes, urging heads of courts to resist external pressure and prioritise competence, character and suitability.

“Public confidence in the Judiciary depends, in part, on the assurance that those entrusted with judicial office have emerged through rigorous and credible processes,” she said.

She also urged judicial leaders to promote professional standards, support the development of judicial officers and foster an institutional culture anchored on impartiality and accountability.

Kekere-Ekun further directed heads of courts to establish mechanisms to ensure that judges commenced sittings on time and that lawyers and litigants were promptly notified whenever court sessions were cancelled.

Describing punctuality as a professional responsibility, she said it “must be treated as a professional obligation, not a matter of personal preference.”

She noted that it was unacceptable for lawyers and litigants to travel long distances at considerable expense only to discover that their cases would not be heard.

The CJN therefore urged heads of courts to ensure that court registries maintained reliable procedures for notifying affected parties of changes to sitting schedules.

On courtroom conduct, she said judicial authority should be exercised with fairness, composure and respect for all parties, regardless of their social status, financial means or educational background.

“Every litigant, regardless of social status, financial means or education, deserves dignity, while lawyers are entitled to courteous treatment. Firmness and courtesy are entirely compatible. A judge can control proceedings without humiliating counsel or a litigant,” she said.

She also directed heads of courts to ensure that courtrooms remained professional environments free from bullying and harassment.

The CJN called for sustained investment in judicial support staff, including registrars, research officers, administrative personnel and information technology workers.

She further advocated structured mentorship programmes under which newly appointed judges would work with experienced judicial officers for a defined period before sitting independently.

Earlier, the Administrator of the NJI and retired President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said the judiciary remained under constant public scrutiny because of its role as custodian of justice and guardian of the rule of law.

Adejumo said judicial leaders had a responsibility to protect the institution’s image and shape positive public perceptions.

He described the annual roundtable as an opportunity for heads of courts to exchange views on common challenges and collectively develop solutions.

According to him, the programme was deliberately designed to minimise external intervention and allow heads of courts to direct discussions and determine outcomes.

The retired judge also commended Kekere-Ekun for reforms she had introduced, which he said had strengthened judicial independence and enhanced integrity across all levels of the judiciary.