…..The law Remains the Law, no Matter Whose Ox Is Gored – CJN..
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has said that the judiciary would not in any way be overwhelmed by public opinions and sentiments of the “mob” in carrying out their constitutional duties.
Speaking at the opening of the special session of the 2023/2024 legal year and the swearing-in of 58 newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Justice Ariwoola asked judges to remain focused on the discharge of their judicial functions .
The CJN said “I expect every judicial officer to work very hard and also be very honest and courteous to the litigants, witnesses and members of the bar, and discharge all your judicial functions with all the humility at your command.
“Even while doing this, it is still necessary to have at the back of your minds that public opinions, sentiments or emotions can never take the place of the law in deciding the cases that come before you.
“The law remains the law, no matter whose interest is involved. In all we do, as interpreters of the law, we should endeavour to severe the strings of emotion from logic and assumption from fact.
“We should never be overwhelmed by the actions or loud voices of the mob or crowd and now begin to confuse law with sentiment or something else in deciding our cases.
“Nevertheless, unnecessary and unwarranted utterances are bound to embarrass not only others, but the Judge himself; thus what should be asked, should be asked, and what should not be asked, should be avoided.”
Ariwoola pledged his commitment to safeguard the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the trust and confidence of the public.
He further assured that soon the apex court would have its full complement of 21 justices to break the jinx of its inability to meet the constitutional requirement.
The CJN revealed that the efforts of the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO), which was inaugurated in 2018 by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice W.S.A Onnoghen, to fast-tracking the trial of corruption and financial related crimes in the country, has seen 10 convictions by the ICPC and 1,094 by the EFCC in the 2022/2023 period.
According to him,the Supreme Court received 1,271 cases comprising motions and appeals between September 12, 2022 and July 11, 2023.out of which it heard 388 political appeals, 215 criminal appeals and 464 civil appeals adding that it also considered a total of 49 criminal motions, 153 civil motions, and 2 political motions.
The judiciary came under public odium following its delivery of judgements said to be conflicting from petitions arising from the general elections between February and March this year.
One of which was the declaration on Judgement day In favour of Kano All Progressives Congress APC Governoship candidate,Dr Nasiru Gawuna as winner of the March 18 Governorship election on one hand, and handing over to Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP,the Certified True Copy ( CTC) of the judgement ruling in his favour.
Days later, the Appeal Court maintained its position sacking Yusuf, whose election was upturned by the state Election Petition Tribunal and has approached the Supreme Court for justice.
The Appeal Judgements by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on the presidential election also generated spurious comments and bile reactions from parties who lost.
