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Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges against political associations or conduct capable of compromising their impartiality in resolving disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Monday in Abuja during the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year of the Supreme Court.
She said electoral disputes often generated intense political activity and emotions, requiring the judiciary to approach such cases with calmness, detachment and strict adherence to the law.
The CJN cautioned judicial officers against actions or statements that could undermine public confidence in their neutrality, noting that their conduct during the electoral period would attract close scrutiny.
She urged judges to remain within the boundaries of their oath of office and the Constitution, stressing that no judicial officer should behave in a manner that creates an impression of partiality.
Kekere-Ekun also warned lawyers against forum shopping and filing multiple cases seeking similar reliefs in different courts, saying such practices could lead to conflicting orders and damage the reputation of the judiciary.
She said political litigation should not overwhelm the courts to the detriment of other cases awaiting determination.
The CJN urged lawyers to disclose related pending cases and respect the jurisdiction and processes of other courts, emphasising that their professional responsibility extended beyond securing favourable outcomes for clients.
On judicial appointments, she called for the protection of the selection process managed by the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission, saying it must remain transparent and credible.
She noted that recent reforms had strengthened the assessment of candidates through structured evaluations, professional feedback, background checks and public comments on shortlisted candidates.
However, she warned against abusing the process through public attacks, personal vendettas or attempts to settle professional disagreements.
The CJN also condemned the growing use of social media to intimidate and harass judges, lawyers and judicial staff, insisting that legitimate complaints should be channelled through appropriate procedures.
“The administration of justice cannot be left to anger, intimidation or trial by social media,” she said, adding that judges must be able to decide cases without fear of retaliation.
Reviewing the Supreme Court’s performance during the 2025/2026 legal year, Kekere-Ekun disclosed that the court handled 2,456 matters and delivered 411 judgments.
The cases comprised 1,179 general civil motions, 573 criminal motions, 13 Sharia-related motions and 676 appeals.
Of the appeals, 433 were general civil cases, 212 criminal cases, 19 political cases and 12 Sharia-related cases, while 10 were originating summons.
She said the court had handled 2,280 matters and delivered 369 judgments and rulings in the preceding legal year.
The CJN also highlighted efforts to reduce case backlogs through improved case management.
Between March 23 and December 27, 2026, the court’s E-Diary Office scheduled 1,385 matters for regular sittings, comprising 1,021 motions and 364 appeals.
According to her, 733 of the cases were old matters prioritised for hearing, while 178 dormant cases were disposed of in chambers and 125 concluded matters were removed from the active caseload.
Kekere-Ekun said the figures reflected progress in managing the court’s workload but acknowledged that more needed to be done to ensure timely justice delivery.
She reiterated that safeguarding judicial independence, professional discipline and public confidence remained essential to the credibility of the courts, particularly as Nigeria approaches another general election.
