Firdaus Obiremi
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges across the country against allowing politicians to manipulate the judiciary to gain undue advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kekere-Ekun urged heads of courts to guard against practices capable of undermining the integrity of judicial proceedings, particularly forum shopping, concealment of related cases and attempts to secure conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
The CJN gave the warning on Monday while speaking at the opening of the 2026 roundtable for heads of courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute in Abuja.
She said the warning had become necessary as the country approaches another election season, when disputes over party primaries, candidate eligibility and election outcomes are likely to place considerable pressure on the judiciary.
According to her, political sensitivity, public sentiment and the urgency attached to election-related cases must not influence the interpretation and application of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and relevant court rules.
“Political sensitivity, public sentiment or the urgency with which a matter is presented must never displace the careful application of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the applicable rules of court,” she said.
The CJN urged heads of courts to establish appropriate administrative arrangements for the timely and orderly handling of election-related disputes, warning judicial officers against allowing urgent applications or ex-parte orders to become instruments for securing improper political advantages.
She also stressed the need for judges to demand full disclosure of relevant facts from litigants, examine applications carefully and take related proceedings into consideration before issuing orders.
Kekere-Ekun described forum shopping as particularly damaging to the judicial system, noting that the practice undermines consistency, encourages abuse of court processes and exposes the judiciary to avoidable public controversy.
“No litigant should be permitted to manipulate the judicial system in search of a favourable decision. Public confidence in the judiciary will be tested during this period,” she warned.
She said heads of courts had a responsibility to ensure that election-related cases were handled competently, expeditiously and strictly in accordance with the law, irrespective of the political interests involved.
The CJN maintained that the judiciary must remain an impartial arbiter of disputes, guided by evidence, the applicable law and the demands of justice rather than pressure from political actors or other external interests.
CJN tackles delays in justice delivery
Beyond election-related disputes, Kekere-Ekun identified delays in the determination of cases as one of the major challenges confronting the judiciary.
She said prolonged proceedings impose financial and emotional burdens on litigants, reduce the practical value of judicial remedies and weaken public confidence in the justice system.
While acknowledging that inadequate funding, infrastructure and judicial manpower contributed to delays, she said some of the problems could be addressed through effective court administration.
She identified inefficient docket management, repeated adjournments, poor scheduling and failure to monitor inactive cases as administrative shortcomings that unnecessarily prolong proceedings.
The CJN directed heads of courts to maintain accurate records of pending cases, including their age, categories and reasons for continued delays, to enable them to develop practical strategies for reducing case backlogs.
She, however, cautioned against measuring judicial efficiency solely by the number of cases disposed of, insisting that speed must not come at the expense of fairness and the right to a fair hearing.
“Efficiency, however, must not be measured solely by the number of cases disposed of. It requires cases to be determined fairly, competently and within a reasonable time, with the right to fair hearing fully protected,” she said.
Warns against compromised judicial appointments
The CJN also called for transparency and merit in the appointment of judicial officers, urging heads of courts to resist pressure from external interests.
She said judicial appointments must be based on objective criteria, professional competence, character and suitability for judicial office.
According to her, public confidence in the judiciary partly depends on the assurance that judges emerge through rigorous and credible selection processes.
Kekere-Ekun further urged heads of courts to promote professional standards, support the development of judicial officers and strengthen institutional practices that encourage impartiality and accountability.
Judges face scrutiny over punctuality, conduct
The CJN also expressed concern over the treatment of litigants and lawyers, particularly situations in which court users incur substantial transportation and other expenses only to discover that proceedings have been cancelled.
She directed heads of courts to establish mechanisms for ensuring that judges commence sittings on time and promptly notify lawyers and litigants whenever scheduled proceedings cannot hold.
She said court heads should communicate clear sitting times, monitor compliance and address persistent or unjustified lateness through established supervisory and disciplinary procedures.
Describing the situation in which litigants travel long distances at considerable expense only to find that a court will not sit as unacceptable, she called for greater consideration of the time, resources and dignity of court users.
On courtroom conduct, Kekere-Ekun said judicial authority should be exercised with fairness, composure and respect.
She maintained that every litigant, irrespective of social status, financial means or educational background, deserved dignity and that lawyers were entitled to courteous treatment.
“Firmness and courtesy are entirely compatible. A judge can control proceedings without humiliating counsel or a litigant,” she added.
NJI administrator backs judicial reforms
Earlier, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said the judiciary remained under constant public scrutiny because of its responsibility as custodian of justice and guardian of the rule of law.
He said those entrusted with managing the affairs of the judiciary had a responsibility to protect its institutional integrity and improve public perceptions of the justice system.
Adejumo described the annual roundtable as an opportunity for heads of courts to discuss common challenges, exchange ideas and develop collective solutions to problems affecting judicial administration.
He explained that the programme was deliberately structured to minimise external intervention, allowing heads of courts to lead discussions and determine the outcomes.
The NJI administrator also commended Kekere-Ekun for reforms which, he said, had strengthened judicial independence and enhanced integrity across the different levels of the judiciary.
A political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 general elections, the CJN’s warning places renewed emphasis on the responsibility of the courts to prevent procedural abuses, determine disputes in accordance with the law and protect public confidence in the electoral justice system.
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