The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has warned that public opinion must not override the constitution.
He disclosed this on Wednesday during the swearing in of newly appointed 23 Judges of the Federal High Court, held at the ceremonial hall of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja.
While warning that they are completely opened to daily public scrutiny as several vitriolic attacks are regularly heaped on the judiciary, he warned that they must be guided by the constitution.
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“The pen is right there in your hand to write whatever you desire to be in the content of the new page that is now openly displayed in the public domain. Several vitriolic attacks are regularly heaped on the judiciary, it is, however, crystal clear that public opinion, no matter how serious or weighty it might be, cannot override or supersede the constitution of the country which we apply in deciding each case,” he said.
He urged them to severe ties with anything that will smear their hands and bring them into disrepute in the discharge of their assignments.
“Nevertheless, your Lordships still owe your conscience and the generality of the Nigerian masses, particularly those who are looking up to you, the great responsibility of good moral rectitude and acceptable conduct to uphold and consolidate the trust reposed in you,” he said.
The new judges include Dipeolu Deinde Isaac (Ogun State); Ogundare Kehinde Olayiwola (Ekiti State); Agbaje Olufunmilola Adetutu (Lagos State); Musa Kakaki (Kaduna State); Abdullahi Muhammad Dan-Ige (Sokoto State); and Sharon Tanko Ishaya (Kebbi State).
They also include Salim Olasupo Ibrahim (Ogun State); Yilwa Hauwa Joseph (Gombe State); Wigwe-Oreh Chituru Joy (Rivers State); Owoeye Alexander Oluseyi (Kogi State); Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa (Benue State); Amina Aliyu Mohammad (Katsina State); Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi (Kwara State); Hauwa Buhari (Federal Capital Territory); and Aishatu Auta Ibrahim (Borno State).
The others are Hussaini Dadan-Garba (Bauchi State); Ibrahim Ahmad Kala (Gombe State); Mashkur Salisu (Zamfara State); Onah Chigozie Sergius (Enugu State); Egbe Raphael Joshua (Bayelsa State); Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr. (Oyo State); Ekerete Udofot Akpan (Akwa Ibom State); and Ogazi Friday Nkemakonam (Ebonyi State).
