Kekere-Ekun Outlines Judicial Reform Plans as She is Confirmed CJN

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun pledges to combat corruption and improve transparency in the judiciary if confirmed as CJN

Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has pledged comprehensive judicial reforms in Nigeria, particularly focusing on transparency and the elimination of corruption. As she faces confirmation for the CJN role, she made it clear during her Senate screening that maintaining the integrity of the judiciary is a top priority. In her address, she emphasized that she will ensure the judiciary is free from any form of corruption, especially from politicians and judicial officers.

Speaking at the National Assembly, Mrs. Kekere-Ekun underscored her commitment to enforcing a strict code of conduct for judicial officers. She noted that safeguarding the integrity of the judiciary is critical for fair and transparent judicial reforms in Nigeria. “We will not tolerate corruption at any level in the justice system. Our goal is to maintain a transparent process,” she remarked.

Performance Evaluations for Judges

In her quest to enhance judicial reforms in Nigeria, Kekere-Ekun plans to strengthen the performance evaluation process for judges. She explained that the National Judicial Council (NJC) will closely assess the quality of judgments delivered by the courts, ensuring that both the quality and punctuality of judicial officers are evaluated. “We already have a committee working on this, but we aim to tighten this process to ensure that judges are not just delivering judgments but doing so with integrity and punctuality,” she stated.

These reforms are crucial in ensuring that the judicial system continues to maintain its independence and integrity, which is a key component of Kekere-Ekun’s agenda for judicial reforms in Nigeria.

Addressing Delays in Judgments and Petitions

Another critical aspect of her judicial reforms in Nigeria agenda is ensuring that petitions and court cases are resolved without unnecessary delays. She committed to speeding up the processing of cases and petitions within the judiciary, asserting that such steps will restore public confidence in the system. “The NJC will ensure petitions are handled promptly, demonstrating that the judiciary is committed to upholding integrity at all times,” she explained.

Improving Judicial Infrastructure and Welfare

Kekere-Ekun also emphasized the need for better welfare and infrastructure to support the judiciary’s efforts in judicial reforms in Nigeria. She acknowledged the recent salary increases for judicial officers, applauding President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly for this development. However, she argued that more needs to be done in terms of creating a conducive working environment for the judiciary. “For the judiciary to operate optimally, we need adequate infrastructure and better welfare packages for judicial officers,” she said.

Fair and Transparent Appointment of Judicial Officers

A significant component of her proposed judicial reforms in Nigeria involves ensuring transparency in the appointment process for judicial officers. Kekere-Ekun is keen on making the selection process more rigorous and transparent to boost public confidence in the judiciary. “We are working on improving the screening process so that the appointment of judges is something citizens can trust,” she mentioned. She added that looking into practices from other jurisdictions could help enhance Nigeria’s system.

Limiting Supreme Court Caseload

In her screening, Kekere-Ekun also proposed limiting the number of cases reaching the Supreme Court to focus more on issues of national significance. She advocated that certain cases, especially interlocutory appeals, should end at the Court of Appeal, leaving the Supreme Court to handle cases with broader policy implications. This measure, part of her broader judicial reforms in Nigeria, would help reduce delays at the highest level of the judiciary and improve the quality of Supreme Court decisions.

Reforming Pre-Election Matters

Lastly, Kekere-Ekun addressed pre-election cases, suggesting they should no longer proceed to the Supreme Court but instead terminate at the Court of Appeal. According to her, this would help reduce the Supreme Court’s burden and allow it to focus on more significant legal matters, which aligns with her broader vision for judicial reforms in Nigeria.

After a thorough review by the Senate, Kekere-Ekun was subsequently confirmed as Chief Justice of Nigeria, setting the stage for her to implement these much-needed judicial reforms.