Afrigather 
By Adam Adedimeji
Even earlier than August 22, 2024 that she assumed obligation because the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the information media was awash with the tagline, “agenda setting”. After two months of being within the saddle, the thrill is but stop.
The pattern isn’t uncommon, as it’s not peculiar to Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. At the least, in consideration of what has been trailing the assumptions of workplace by her predecessors lately, agenda-setting is rushing in direction of changing into a convention.
However why the ritual? Is it misplaced or out of custom within the judiciary? Ought to it proceed? If it continues, what picture would the fixed agenda-setting painting for the Nigerian judiciary?
Firstly, what has now change into a cliche is evident indication of dissatisfaction on the a part of stakeholders within the authorized career and most of the people. That, due to this fact, solutions half one of many second query.
In recent times, allegation of perversion of justice within the Nigerian judiciary, which incorporates corruption of all types, has change into commonplace. Even these on the high echelon of the judiciary haven’t been exonerating the very physique they’re saddled with main. Different stakeholders within the authorized career aren’t exempted, identical to these within the political class and different spheres of life in Nigeria. Merely put, it’s evidentially an disagreeable growth within the system that creates room for the periodic agenda setting.
The unpleasantness is sufficient in offering reply to the second a part of the second query above. Certainly, it’s fairly out of order!
There isn’t any telling the diploma of despondency that the bigger society goes via in a scenario the place aspersion is being forged on the very physique constructed with the accountability of shelling out justice to all.
By its design in accordance with the wealthy English authorized custom, the Nigerian judiciary is the one one among the many three organs of presidency that’s insulated from partisan identification. By that nature of its, the perverted system that has characterised Nigerian political setting ought to to not be heard and seen within the judiciary.
Nonetheless, it’s unlucky that the darkish spots within the Nigerian political ecosystem have discovered their methods to the judiciary. It’s quizzical that, by our political association, the judiciary has change into integral within the management recruitment course of throughout the nation. A lot of the issues confronting the judiciary right this moment could be traced to the determined cravings of these within the political class.
However even with the contagious an infection of political prodding, agenda setting shouldn’t be the order of the day for our judiciary. It’s a proven fact that the duties anticipated of the CJN are properly spelt out. It is usually a proven fact that the judiciary is properly structured and streamlined to drive the agenda naturally and constitutionally bestowed on it. It’s a proven fact that there are a variety of inside mechanisms throughout the judiciary establishment to examine potential excesses by judicial officers, together with the CJN.
Outdoors the inner frameworks within the judiciary, these superintending over the affairs of that sacred organ of presidency are additionally subjected to common moral requirements anticipated of public workplace holders in Nigeria. That is the place the performance of the Code of Conduct Bureau comes into the image. Whereas one can’t overemphasize the crucial of enthroning nationwide values of fine conduct, that are a pre-requisite for total nationwide growth, it have to be emphasised that fixing Nigeria, identical to another society, goes past the precincts of the workplace of the CJN, and naturally, the judiciary arm of presidency.
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In reality, if 1 / 4 of principal public workplace holders in Nigeria work in accordance with the letter and spirit of the code of conduct for public officers, which type the crux of the oath they swear to shortly earlier than entering into places of work, the remainder of the specified issues regarding Nigeria’s public life would set in correctly with out the tutorial train of agenda setting. Actually, because the chief judicial officer within the nation, the CJN, has a vital function in setting sure issues proper in Nigeria. The judiciary as a complete mustn’t simply be the final hope of the frequent individuals however the starting and sustenance of hope for everybody. For the judiciary to hold out such an onerous job, it additionally must be correctly mounted. And the primary and most decisive step of fixing the judiciary is by enhancing its full independence.
It’s unlucky that whereas the clamour for agenda setting within the judiciary abounds, these manning the judiciary are inherently incapacitated in becoming a member of the campaign for the betterment of the third arm of presidency. Over time, the judiciary has been pinched however even once they knew the place and the way they’ve been pinched, the character of their job retains hindering them from crying to the listening to of others. Owing to this hindrance, the judiciary has remained weak to a big section of individuals who’re bent on suppressing the rule of regulation. So, as decisive because the judiciary is within the nationwide scheme of issues, it has its personal handicap within the sense that it’s so restricted in exploring autonomy that it’s anticipated to get pleasure from. In an setting the place legislative shenanigans and govt impunity name the photographs, one can think about what the judiciary has been going via in silence.
Inside and past the aforementioned, does Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun want agenda setting? In response to the editor of THISDAY LAWYER, Onikepo Braithwaite, “Drawing from Kekere-Ekun’s repute as being hardworking, thorough and stickler for prime customary, we don’t doubt that she already has a imaginative and prescient and agenda for the judiciary.” Nothing might be extra factual!
The trail to thoroughness and dedication to obligation, which she has been strolling in her profession life to date, was created for her from her cradle. Apart from belonging to a noble lineage of three royal households, her father, the late Senator H.A.B. Fasinro, was fervently dedicated to excessive ethical precepts in tandem with the positive values of Islamic religion. Aside from having sound training at a excessive materials price proper from her youth, Kekere-Ekun loved the close-knit consideration of household values supplied by her mother and father. She was introduced up in a really disciplined setting, the place virtues akin to exhausting work, contentment, integrity, social self-discipline and emotional intelligence had been taught informally on a hourly foundation.
Over time, her stable background has been her power which engenders her capability to maintain sustaining the observe envisaged for her to stroll. Greater than ever, the totality of her phenomenonal character is anticipated to return to the total glare of public data presently, which is decisively the apogee of her profession and life.
Of latest, no CJN has had a widely known identify like hers earlier than changing into Nigeria’s primary judicial officer. Whereas the character traits of humility continues to be intact in her, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun can’t run away from the cognizance that she has a reputation lengthy written within the public mindset.
Foremost among the many agenda she will need to have set for herself derives from the truth that she has a reputation of no imply reputation to guard – a reputation borne by others, a reputation she’s going to depart behind on the earth and a reputation to be borne by her posterity.
At current, no agenda has the power of bettering the lot of the judiciary than the identify Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and there may be each purpose to consider already that she’s going to surpass expectations.
Adam is Chairman, NBA’s Legal professionals within the Media Discussion board. He could be reached by way of: [email protected]
