From Tony John, Port Harcourt; Scholastic Hir, Makurdi; Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa; Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin and Idu Jude Abuja
President Bola Tinubu recently swore in the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun in an acting capacity. In this report, some Nigerians set agenda for the new head of the nation’s judiciary.
She should ensure cases are decided timeously – David West, chairman, CLO; Yenagoa
She should improve the judicial system, criminal justice system and litigation system. Before now, we have rulings and counter rulings from courts of coordinate jurisdiction. There are lawyers who have formed the habit of going to court to get ex-parte orders, especially in political matters from the federal high courts and high courts.
Take the case of Rivers State, the elongation of local government chairmen tenure and the status of defected lawmakers. Politicians have made mockery of our judiciary and the CJN must stop this.
The new CJN should do well to ensure cases are decided timeously. Justice delayed is justice denied, cases should be decided fairly and fearlessly. She should also strengthen the disciplinary mechanism of the judiciary through the National Judicial Council (NJC) to discipline erring judges. Finally, she should avoid hobnobbing with politicians.
She should fasten the process of justice dispensation – Mike Tayese, journalist: Yenagoa
The new CJN has a lot of work to do because the entire judicial system needs overhauling and reforms. Secondly, the judiciary needs to fasten the process of justice dispensation in Nigeria.
The new CJN should safeguard judicial independence and impartiality – Obinna Ebogidi, Social Crusader; Port Harcourt
The fate of Nigeria’s judiciary hangs in the balance, but I believe Kekere-Ekun’s leadership is the beacon of hope for restoring public trust and confidence. Her top priority must be to safeguard judicial independence and impartiality, ensuring the judiciary remains a fortress of integrity, untainted by the executive and legislative arms of government.
The recent controversial and suspicious judgements have eroded trust, plunging states like Rivers into constitutional chaos. She must confront the scourge of corruption head-on, ushering in transparency in judicial appointments, shielding judges from undue influence, and holding erring judges accountable. The judiciary’s reputation is at an all-time low, but with her visionary leadership, there’s a glimmer of hope for redemption and a return to the sanctity of justice.
CJN should focus on the area of judgement debt against state institutions – Enefaa Georgewill, activist, Port Harcourt
The CJN should focus on the area of judgement debt usually against state institutions like the police, so that our court will not appear like an academic exercise. There are several judgement debts that are yet to be executed. They should engage the federal government to make sure that those institutions, especially the government institutions pay those debts.
She should proliferate alternative dispute resolution centres – Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, president, Benin National Congress, Benin
I expect the new Chief Justice of Nigeria to methodologically catalyse the proliferation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) centres, as sub units of the Nigeria judicial system, by resetting defining criteria for matters that should be entertained in the magistrate, customary and high courts. So, most matters littering our mainstream courtrooms ought to be matters for the ADRs. The ADR centres personnel should enjoy adequate remuneration as well as training and retraining programmes in order to render effective impact in our judicial system.
She should rebuild trust for judiciary – Comrade Osazee Edigin, rights activist; Benin
The new CJN must as a matter of urgency make deliberate attempts to rebuild the trust for the judiciary. All political matters must be dispensed justly without fear or favour. The rule of law and the protection of human rights should be her mantra in order for citizens to have faith in the judiciary. Access to justice and quick dispensation of cases should be her focus as these have been a major concern for citizens over the years.
She should stop conflicting judgements – Abdulwahab Momodu, businessman; Benin
The interpretation of our laws is becoming very much ridiculous. Like the election cases where ex parte order is obtained from every nook and cranny of Nigeria.
We don’t know whether this court is above or below the other. It comes to a time where you see contradictory judgements. I will advise that there should be a synergy among the various courts so that there will not be conflicting judgements.
She should ensure that every Nigerian gets justice – Anna Tor, nutrition officer; Makurdi
I would love her to show a difference; not following the usual way by giving justice to only the bourgeois. Every Nigerian should get justice under her tenure. We also have a lot of Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases that justice has not been served. As a mother, she should also use her position to encourage women to speak out and also be able to get them justice.
We hope women will have a voice under her – Winifred Ogar, nutritionist; Calabar
We expect that women will be carried along. Gender equity has been a problem in Nigeria and we are hoping that women will be given equal rights even in the law courts. There have been a lot of gender issues; GBV, rape and victimization. We are hoping that women will have a voice under her tenure.
She should stand firm to protect the laws – Wombo John, public servant; Makurdi
The Chief Justice of Nigeria should be able to stand firm to protect our laws in the midst of these politicians. She should be steadfast in the interpretation of laws and in ensuring justice for all, as she is the last hope for the hopeless.
She will dance to the tune of the president – Morris Erhuvwu, cleric; Abuja
It is obvious that the out gone CJN is a Yoruba man and the new one is also a Yoruba. So only Yoruba are qualified to be CJN under President Bola Tinubu’s administration?
It is a build up to the 2027 elections. After the elections, they will always ask the aggrieved people to go court.
I suggest that the president should not appoint the CJN; he should not be made to appoint the INEC chairman, and if this should continue, we can’t get it right. If the president appoints me, I would work for him.
If he tells me to kill, I would kill for him. So, allowing the president to make such appointments spells doom.
