•Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned judges to be wary in their handling of election-related cases.
Justice Kekere-Ekun warned them against granting conflicting decisions, encouraging forum shopping, and abuse of ex parte orders, among others.
She spoke in Abuja today during the opening ceremony of the 2025/2026 legal year of the Federal High Court and the court’s 41st annual judges’ conference, reports The Nation.
Justice Kekere-Ekun said, “As we look ahead to the 2027 general elections, the Judiciary will once again be called upon to play a stabilising national role.
“Election-related disputes must be handled with discipline, consistency, and strict adherence to constitutional and statutory timelines.
“The nation looks to the courts for clarity and balance at such critical moments. This court has a crucial role to play in pre-election dispute resolution.
“Conflicting interim orders, forum shopping, and the abuse of ex parte processes undermine the credibility of the entire justice system and weaken public confidence.
“Heads of divisions must therefore enforce procedural discipline firmly and fairly.
“The Judiciary must never be perceived as a theatre for political gamesmanship; it must remain a sanctuary of constitutional order,” she said.
Justice Kekere-Ekun urged judges to work on ways to prevent delays and advised that judicial officers must actively manage cases and guide proceedings.
She said the National Judicial Council (NJC) would continue to strengthen oversight of case progression to support efficiency and institutional discipline.
The CJN assured of the commitment of the Judiciary to improve the working conditions, infrastructure, research support, and safety of judicial officers, noting that a judge who feels insecure cannot dispense justice confidently.
The CJN noted that unpredictable or inefficient court processes could undermine even well-reasoned judgments, emphasising that punctuality, consistency in court sittings, and transparent communication with litigants and counsel were essential components of justice delivery.
“Our judgments constitute our voice, and the manner in which we discharge our duties defines the authority and credibility of that voice,” she stated.
The CJN stressed the need for judicial independence anchored on responsibility, courage, and moral clarity, while also commending judges of the Federal High Court for continuing to discharge their duties with professionalism despite mounting pressure and public scrutiny.
On reforms, Justice Kekere-Ekun identified digitisation as no longer optional but a core institutional priority and advocated the expansion of virtual hearings, e-filing, electronic case tracking, and secure digital records to enhance speed, accountability, and public trust in the courts.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, expressed delight about the court’s performance in the past legal year in its efforts to enhance efficient and effective service delivery.
Justice Tsoho said at the end of the 2023/2024 legal year, a total of 161,999 cases were pending and carried over to the 2024/2025 legal year, adding that, within the period, a total of 19,925 cases were filed, which brought the total number of pending cases to 181,924.
“From this number, a total of 16,019 were disposed of, leaving 165,905 pending cases,” he said, and added that of the 16,019 cases disposed of, 3,113 are civil cases, 5,818 are criminal cases, 3,724 are motions, and 3,364 are fundamental human rights cases.
The Chief Judge said a total of 44,650 civil cases, 44,078 criminal cases, 46228 motions, and 30,949 fundamental rights enforcement applications remained pending at the end of the last legal year.
He disclosed that the process of appointing 14 additional Judges to the Bench of the court has reached an advanced stage following the approval and support of the CJN and the chairman of the NJC
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), said the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court over matters that define the country’s economic, regulatory, and constitutional framework places it at the center of national development and investor confidence.
Osigwe urged judges of the court to remain vigilant against any actual or perceived political capture or manipulation, adding that any perception that judicial processes are shaped by partisanship undermines the foundation of the rule of law.
He said the Judiciary must guard its independence with utmost vigilance as its authority rests not on force but on public confidence in its neutrality.
He said, the Federal High Court must insist that its jurisdiction cannot be manipulated as a substitute for political will, party leadership, party discipline, or internal democracy, adding that, “Not every quarrel within a political party is justiciable and not every grievance constitutes a legal dispute.
“The court’s docket should not become a political theatre or a staging ground for political leadership or factional dominance, ” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) urged Judges to be bold, strong, and of good courage in the discharge of their duties, adding that, “the Law is what the Judges say.
Agabi said, the dominance of one political party as it is now, which has virtually eliminated opposition, makes the work of the Judiciary more urgent and important.
He called on Judges to be bold, honest, and innovative in the adjudication of political matters, as the hope of the nation is in the judiciary.
