Kehinde Fajobi
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has expressed concern that the actions of a few judges are harming the judiciary’s image.
Addressing a public discourse on “Ethics, Morality, and The Law,” Kekere-Ekun noted that recent controversial rulings from courts with similar jurisdiction, particularly in states like Kano and Rivers where political tensions run high, have raised questions about the judiciary’s role.
However, she stressed that the majority of Nigerian judges remain upright, hardworking, and knowledgeable.
Kekere-Ekun urged judges to remember their accountability to both the public and their conscience.
“It is unfortunate that, by and large, our judges are knowledgeable, upright, courageous, and hardworking, but a few are giving us a bad name,” she stated.
Highlighting the strong moral foundations in Nigeria, influenced by the Abrahamic faiths of Islam and Christianity, Kekere-Ekun observed that these religions promote “morality, uprightness, and righteousness.”
She argued that legal practitioners must navigate the overlap of law, ethics, and morality to serve as true “ministers in the temple of justice.”
“The role of the legal practitioner within this framework merits particular attention.
“The lawyer, often seen as both antagonist and protagonist in the pursuit of justice, must balance the scriptures and the law with ethical constitutions, which often contain moral and legal questions that may seem at odds,” she said.
Kekere-Ekun also underscored that public trust in the judiciary is influenced by how well the legal system aligns with societal ethics and morality, adding, “Our legal system should not only administer justice but also resonate with the community’s moral convictions.”
The event, organised by the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA) to mark its 30th anniversary and to celebrate Justice Habeeb Adewale Abiru’s elevation to the Supreme Court, provided a platform for examining the ethical expectations of judges and legal practitioners.