The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on the judiciary to uphold credibility, discipline, and constitutional order as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
She made the appeal on Monday in Abuja while declaring open the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Federal High Court and its 41st Annual Judges’ Conference.
Kekere-Ekun stressed that the courts would once again be required to stabilise the electoral process, particularly in resolving pre-election matters. She said election-related disputes must be addressed with consistency, clarity, and strict adherence to constitutional timelines to maintain public trust.
“As we look ahead to the 2027 general elections, the judiciary will once again be called upon to play a stabilising national role,” she said. “Election disputes must be handled with discipline and fidelity to the law. The courts have a crucial responsibility in pre-election resolution, and the nation looks to us for clarity and balance.”
The CJN cautioned against political interference in judicial processes, warning that the courts must not become arenas for political strategy. She urged heads of divisions to enforce procedural discipline firmly and fairly.
Kekere-Ekun also raised concerns over delays in justice delivery, describing it as one of the most persistent criticisms of the system. She noted that while some delays are structural, many are preventable, emphasising that judges must adopt effective case management practices.
She added that the National Judicial Council would intensify oversight on case progression—not as intimidation, but to strengthen discipline and improve justice delivery.
On welfare, she insisted that judicial security and wellbeing remain top priorities, saying no judge can dispense justice confidently without adequate protection and support.
Kekere-Ekun acknowledged the fragility of public confidence in the judiciary, urging judges to rebuild trust through professionalism, transparency, and visible order in the administration of justice.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, welcomed participants to the new legal year and outlined recent reforms, including the rollout of the E-Affidavit system, the introduction of E-Filing in Lagos, the expansion of the court’s headquarters, the creation of an insolvency unit, and a Freedom of Information desk.
Tsoho revealed that 16,019 cases were concluded in the last legal year, while 165,905 remain pending. He also announced that the appointment of 14 additional judges is at an advanced stage, expressing hope that the development will improve case disposal.
He condemned increasing social media attacks on judicial officers by lawyers, describing such behaviour as unprofessional and damaging to the system.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), called for improved case management and the introduction of specialised courts for complex issues such as taxation, insolvency, and intellectual property. He said digital filing and virtual hearings must become standard practice.
Also speaking, former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), warned that Nigeria’s political landscape is tilting towards one-party dominance, which places greater responsibility on the judiciary to protect democratic principles.
Agabi noted that the decline of political opposition has weakened federalism, stressing that the judiciary must remain strong, alert, and innovative in defending the law and the constitution.
CJN urges judiciary to safeguard integrity ahead of 2027 elections
