CJN swears in 11 new Supreme Court justices

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, swore in the newly appointed 11 Justices of the Supreme Court on Monday, warning them to shun questionable acts capable of dragging the Apex Court into the mud.

As Justices of the Supreme Court of the land, where appellants’ expectations are frequently very high and contagious, he warned them to be ready for criticisms or verbal assaults from litigants who have lost cases.

Justice Ariwoola charged the new Supreme Court Justices to note that their interactions with people of enviable inclinations and pedigree, if any, must be halted forthwith, adding that they should not allow their personal ambition to becloud their sense of judgement.

He said: “There is no way you can please human beings, especially litigants. The easiest way to fail in life is by trying to please everyone. The only deity you can fear is the Almighty God.

“Once your judgement is in consonance with what God expects from you and is also in accordance with the Constitution, you should consider yourself the happiest and freest person on earth.”

The CJN told the new justices who are coming to join the Supreme Court bench at a time when the rank has been grossly depleted to an all-time low of ten justices for a number of reasons, mainly retirement and deaths.

“Your moral uprightness, integrity, and respect for the constitution and other extant laws in operation must be unwavering and unassailable,” he said, urging the new justices to see themselves as the representatives of God on earth.

“Because any judgment given at this level can only be upturned in heaven,” Persecondnews quotes Ariwoola as saying.

Some of the justices include Justices Jumai Sankey, Haruna Tsamani, Stephen Adah, Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwah, Chioma Nwosu Iheme, Moore Adumein, Festus Ogbunya, and Mohammed Baba Idris.