The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhammad has sworn in seven Federal High Court Judges in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He advised them to shun corruption in the discharge of their judicial functions.
Among the Judges, six are to take charge as Federal High Court Judges while one is at the Federal Capital Territory FCT High Court.
The new judges were approved by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of concerted efforts to make the ever-busy court cope with the volume that may arise from the 2023 general elections.
The Chief Judge, who noted that Judicial officers are not known to perform wonders, said that the society within which they operate would demand the impossible from them especially as the 2023 elections approaches.
He urged the new Judges to be ready to see and hear verbal assault, and uncomplimentary remarks in the course of their judicial assignment.
“Even though I rejoice with you on this very important appointment, I still sympathize with you for the many troubles, inconveniences, verbal assault and all sorts of uncomplimentary remarks that may be made about you by various litigants in the course of your adjudication, especially if your conscience is not controlling your conduct.
“Appointment to bench is not an appointment to affluence, influence or unholy alliance with people of questionable character that may appear before you in different guise and make you do what is offensive to the law.”
Justice Muhammad charged the new Judges never to engage in any act that would make them regret or abuse their offices.
He explained that; “The National Judicial Council will never rest on its oars in fishing out the bad eggs within the judiciary at all times. You can only run but certainly won’t have the capacity to hide from the long arm of our disciplinary apparatus.”
Justice Muhammad challenged the new Judges not to derail from the revered Path of morality, fairness, justice and equity.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr Yakubu Maikyau described the coming of the new Judges as a welcomed development in the justice sector.
The new judges for the Federal High Court comprise the incumbent Chief Registrar of the Federal high court Mr Emmanuel Gakko, Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman, Aminu Garba, Musa Suleiman Liman, Ahmad Gama Mahmud, Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye and Joseph Adebayo Aina, who is for the FCT high court.
PIAK
