The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has restated her dedication to implementing reforms within the judiciary. Her goal is to achieve more efficient and effective justice administration in Nigeria. This commitment was reaffirmed on Monday during the swearing-in ceremony for 57 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at the Supreme Court in Abuja.
The CJN also pledged to ensure transparency and promote judicial excellence as the Supreme Court begins the 2025/2026 legal year. Furthermore, Justice Kekere-Ekun called on the legislature to pass new laws. These laws should focus on strengthening judicial independence, improving anti-corruption mechanisms, and simplifying court processes.
She called on the executive arm of government, especially in the states, to provide adequate funding for the judiciary, improve judicial infrastructure, and support the implementation of technological advancement.
She expressed concern that the judiciary, especially at the sub-national level, was underfunded.
The CJN said this would have a negative effect on the ability of the judiciary to function effectively.
Kekere-Ekun, however, said that the challenges facing the judiciary required a collaborative effort of all three arms of government, as well as the active participation of the citizens.
She highlighted some reforms implemented to sanitize the justice sector, reduce delays, and restore public confidence.
She said these include the restructuring of the apex court’s litigation department, the digitization of court records, and the creation of specialized units such as the Case Continuation Unit and the Central Information Unit.
The CJN said in the 2024/2025 legal year, the Supreme Court considered a total of 2,280 matters, including 560 appeals and 1,720 motions, and delivered 369 judgments, up from 247 in the previous year, marking a 49 percent increase.
Also speaking, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urged members of the judiciary to be impartial and independent in their decisions.
“It is quite concerning to see the adverse ratings and negative perception indexes of our judiciary.
“The judiciary should discharge its accountability by being principled, independent, and impartial.”
Fagbemi said justice must be done and seen to be done in an atmosphere that serves all parties.
He, however, commended the judiciary for its constitutional interventions and highlighted notable judgments delivered in the past legal year.
He praised the CJN for her swift efforts to reform the judiciary since her confirmation in September 2024.
NAN reports that the SAN title is the highest honor conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria, reserved for lawyers who have attained exceptional distinction in the legal profession, either as advocates in the courtroom or as academics.
Among those sworn in is the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government and former federal prosecutor, Shuaibu Labaran.
The list also has Olanrewaju Akinsola, a commercial litigation and tax advisory expert, legal historian, and publisher of the Onigegewura blog with a unique focus of telling stories from old high-profile court cases through lucid writing.
Also on the list is Preye Agedah, a former Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice.
Another notable name is Chima Ubanyionwu, a legal scholar and former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Aguata Branch, who was selected under the academic category.
