Guard your independence jealously, CJN charges CCT

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has charged the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to guard its independence jealously and avoid acts capable of tarnishing its imagine.

The CJN gave the charge on Thursday, in Abuja when she received in her office, members of the Tribunal led by the chairman, Mr Mainasara Umar on a courtesy visit.

The CCT Chairman had sought the support of the CJN to make the Tribunal more efficient and be in a better position to deliver on its mandate as contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Chairman bemoaned the deplorable state of facilities at the Tribunal but said, he had taken steps to remedy the situation.

He also asked for the support of the leadership of the judiciary to make sure the Tribunal receives the resources it needs to function properly.

In her response, the CJN urged the chairman to adopt an innovative approach to resolving the challenges facing the Tribunal.

Justice Kekere-Ekun advised the Tribunal to work strictly within the jurisdiction conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution as amended and advised the Tribunal members to brainstorm and come up with a solution to tackle the backlog of cases now pending before it.

She also advised the Tribunal and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to adopt proactive measures, including sending reminders to public institutions and agencies to file their declarations before the due date. This, she said will further enhance compliance.

The CJN reminded the Tribunal members of their oath of office and urged them to maintain high fidelity to the constitution.

In a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the CJN, Mr Tobi Soniyi, Justice Kekere-Ekun urged members of the Tribunal to uphold the law without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

“Remember always that the credibility of the Tribunal, and indeed the entire judicial system, rests on the integrity and impartiality of its adjudicators. Let your actions inspire confidence in the institution you now lead,” the CJN said.

In the area of capacity building, the CJN reminded the Chairman of the Tribunal of the availability of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to assist in prioritizing appropriate training through seminars and workshops for members of the Tribunal and the supporting staff.