The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has read the riot act to his son, Olukayode Ariwoola Jnr and 22 others who were sworn in on Wednesday, as new Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
In a speech shortly after swearing in the new judicial officers, Justice Ariwoola reminded the fresh Judges that they have by virtue of the oath they had taken, automatically, assumed new status and responsibilities in life.
The CJN stated that even though judicial officers are not spirits or superhuman beings, however, he told them that so much impossible things are yet expected from them by the society.
On this note, Justice Ariwoola warned them to be wary of conducts in and out of courts that are capable of dragging their hard-earned reputation into the murky waters of public shame and disgrace.
“Appointment to the bench is not an appointment to wealth, vainglory, dishonest disposition or ostentatious lifestyle through corrupt acquaintances.
“The searchlight of the National Judicial Council beams brightly on all judicial officers across the country.
“The NJC should never, either by omission or commission, be mistaken for a toothless Bulldog.
“It can bark fiercely and as well bite deeply and aggressively, too.
“Our radar is sophisticated enough to detect every form of corruption and wrongdoing by judicial officers; and we will not waste a moment in taking the necessary action to fish out the bad eggs.
“The remoteness of your location of adjudication can never blur our sight on you.
“We have put in place the right machinery to capture and document your conduct.
“So, be careful and take heed, or else, you may end up regretting ever being appointed a judicial officer” the CJN warned.
Justice Ariwoola advised the new Judges to heed to the entire letters and words of the oath they had taken, stressing it must reside in a prime place of their hearts and be generously applied in the discharge of their adjudications.
“You must be impartial, fair to all, and apply justice in all your undertakings.
“The times that we are in, are quite perilous, so we need judicial officers who are calculative, honest, objective and dispassionate in all ramifications.
“Thus, your appointments to the bench at this crucial period of our national history are not by accident but by divine ordination” the CJN stated.
