‘See yourselves as next to God,’ CJN Ariwoola urges new Supreme Court justices

The Chief Justice of Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has urged the 11 new justices of the apex court to see themselves as the representatives of the Almighty God on earth because any judgment they deliver can only be upturned in heaven....CONTINUE READING>>>

CJN Ariwoola spoke shortly after swearing in the new justice, an even he described as a significant milestone for the Nigerian Judiciary.

wore in 11 justices of the Supreme Court bringing the number of Supreme Court justices to 21 justices.

The CJN also urged the new justices to uphold unwavering integrity and moral uprightness in their adjudication.

He also asked the new justices not to allow their ambition or any extraneous considerations to cloud their sense of judgment.

The CJN said, “Let your conscience guide and filter every thought that traverses your mind from this moment. I have no doubt that you may have, at one time or the other, been confronted with some form of criticism or verbal assaults by litigants who have lost their cases. ”

Ariwoola was particualrly excited that with the swearing in of the new justice, the Supreme Court has been able to meet up the full complement of the statutory number of its justices.

The CJN said, “The inability of the court to meet up the statutory full complement of 21 Justices had lingered on for too long, thus appearing to be like a jinx.

“I thereafter made a categorical pledge that before i finish my tenure as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, I would, by the special grace of God, do everything within my ability to break that jinx and get on board the well-deserved full complement of the Court.

“Today, as it were, it is apparent that all that is now history; and a very palatable one at that for the Nigerian Judiciary and the country at large.”

The Senate confirmed the appointment of 11 Supreme Court justices nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to fill the vacancies at the apex court bench in December.

The new justices are, Justice Haruna Tsammani (Northeast), who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Court, Justice Moore Adumein (South-South), Justice Jummai Sankey (North-central), Justice Chidiebere Uwa (South-east); and Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South-east).

Others are Justice Obande Ogbuinya (South-East), Justice Stephen Adah (North-Central), Justice Habeeb Abiru (South-West), Justice Jamilu Tukur (Northwest), Justice Abubakar Umar (Northwest) and Justice Mohammed Idris (North-Central).