CJN vows to deal with corrupt judges

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, has threatened to deal with magistrates and area court judges found to have compromised their judicial oath of office. Justice Mukhtar’s warning was contained in an address she delivered yesterday at the opening of the 2012 biennial conference of the All Nigeria Judges of the Lower Courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute, NJI, Abuja. The CJN said that magistrate, area and customary courts were the closest to the masses and the most patronised by the public.
She, however, regretted that reports concerning some judges of the courts left much to be desired as allegations of “corruption and bribery especially in exchange for grant of bail are almost becoming rampant.” The CJN, who is also the Chairman, NJI Board of Governors, threatened that “Commissions of various jurisdictions will not hesitate to administer appropriate sanctions to any judge of the lower courts found wanting. “Heads of courts receive reports and petitions concerning some judges of lower courts which are rather difficult to believe.
“There have also been complaints regarding some of you on laziness in the discharge of judicial duties, lateness in sitting and non-sitting at all and so on”, she said. As a way out, Justice Mukhtar stressed the need for reform as captured in the theme of the conference: “Judicial reforms and the administration of Justice.”
This is even as she insisted that “we should let the reform start from the hearts of individuals concerned” “You reform yourself and allow yourself to be reformed by amending your conduct that bring dishonour to the Judiciary as an institution.
Let your conduct be seen to be both ethical and impeccable.” She said: “Sit promptly, be fair to litigants and other patrons of your courts; lead your staff by example and by so doing, the image of the Judiciary will continue to receive high rating in the opinion of the public.” NJI Administrator, Justice Umaru Eri (rtd), stressed the importance of technology to the dispensation of justice in the country.
He said: “The increased use of ICT among judiciaries around the world evinces to us that our judiciary must be in a position to respond to the technological, socio-economic, cultural and political changes, which impact on the growth and development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 21st century.”
On the issue of remand, Justice Eri wondered why “courts give in to requests for remand on mere presentation of First Information Report by the Police.” The administrator noted that the judiciary is partly responsible for prison congestion, warning that this development must stop. “Year-in-year-out, we are gathered to talk-shop about congestion in our prisons. The truth must be told, that we share in the blame as well and this must stop forthwith.
“From statistics, and my practical knowledge of the prisons, 50 per cent of the warrants of those awaiting trials are signed by judges of the lower courts, that is to say Magistrates, Area Courts and Customary Court Judges,” Eri disclosed.
NationalMirror