By Joy Yesufu
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges who may be appointed to serve on election petition tribunals to maintain strict impartiality and avoid conduct capable of creating the perception of political alignment.
The CJN gave the warning on Wednesday while speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the 2026/2027 legal year of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).
Kekere-Ekun noted that some judges of the court could, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws, be called upon to serve on election petition tribunals, where they would be required to adjudicate politically sensitive disputes that attract considerable public attention.
She stressed that such assignments demanded a high degree of impartiality, restraint and detachment.
“As we approach another electoral season, these responsibilities assume even greater importance.
“Some of your lordships may, in accordance with the applicable constitutional and legal framework, be called upon to serve as members of election petition tribunals.
“In that capacity, your lordships will be called upon to decide politically sensitive disputes which attract considerable public attention.
“The nature of such assignments therefore demands an even greater degree of impartiality, restraint and detachment,” she said.
The CJN urged judges to ensure that their associations, public engagements and other conduct did not create a reasonable perception of political alignment or predisposition.
She also cautioned lawyers against duplicating court actions in different jurisdictions in a manner that could result in conflicting judgments, undermine public confidence and expose the judiciary to disrepute.
According to her, lawyers must allow the law, rather than the perceived likelihood of success before a particular judge or court, to determine the appropriate forum for a case.
“The Bar must never become an instrument through which the judicial process is manipulated for partisan or strategic purposes.
“The proper forum is determined by law, not by the perceived likelihood of success before a particular judge or court,” she said.
Kekere-Ekun further called for restraint in public commentary on judicial proceedings, saying criticism of judgments should not degenerate into personal attacks on judges, deliberate misrepresentation of proceedings or attempts to pressure the courts through public opinion.
She said genuine complaints about judicial conduct should be channelled through appropriate institutional mechanisms.
The CJN also cautioned lawyers on the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in legal research, warning that technology must not replace professional responsibility.
She acknowledged that AI could be a useful research tool but warned that lawyers must independently verify information generated by such systems before presenting it in court.
“An AI system may produce an answer that appears authoritative, complete with names of parties, citations, quotations and even a seemingly convincing account of the decision.
“That does not make the authority genuine. A non-existent case, an incorrectly stated decision or a quotation attributed to a judgment in which it does not appear has no place in a court process,” she said.
The CJN warned that lawyers could face serious consequences if they relied on fabricated or inaccurate authorities generated by AI.
Meanwhile, the President of the NICN, Justice Benedict Kanyip, disclosed that the court disposed of 2,236 cases across its judicial divisions in the past 12 months, significantly reducing its longstanding case backlog.
Kanyip said the achievement was recorded despite the pressure created by the volume of cases before the court.
“Despite the pressure occasioned by this, my colleagues, in their characteristic manner, demonstrated unwavering commitment to duty and concluded significant numbers of these cases.
“I am pleased to report that through the dedication of our judges, we achieved a significant increase in case disposal rates compared to previous years,” he said.
The NICN President, however, expressed concern over the low patronage of the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre by litigants and their lawyers.
He disclosed that only 31 cases were referred to the ADR Centre across the court’s various judicial divisions during the period under review.
Kanyip described ADR as an important component of labour justice delivery, stressing that judicial efficiency could not depend solely on litigation.
“Despite our efforts to promote ADR in the Court, we have not received any reciprocity in that regard from litigants and their counsel,” he said.
Also speaking, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, pledged the Federal Government’s continued support for the NICN.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, said Nigerian labour jurisprudence must remain dynamic while being firmly anchored on the rule of law.
The legal year ceremony was preceded by the official commissioning of the NICN headquarters building.
Among the dignitaries at the event were former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justices Mahmud Mohammed and Walter Onnoghen; the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem; as well as several Senior Advocates of Nigeria and other legal practitioners.
