The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has charged the newly sworn-in Judges to the Court of Appeal bench to justify their elevation.
The CJN gave the charge on Monday at the swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed 18 Justices of the Court of Appeal which held at the main Courtroom of the Supreme Court.
Blueprint reports that number of Justices that were sworn-in was quite huge in the history of the Court of Appeal as the last time the court had that much was in 2012 when 12 Justices were sworn-in.
At the ceremony, the CJN reminded them that the oath they took was meant to pledge their allegiance to the dictates of the Almighty God, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and their conscience, adding that it was a solemn pledge.
The CJN further implore them to be committed, imbibe good conduct in the course of adjudication and conduct all their affairs within the ambit of the law.
“The tempo and rate of public assessment of your conduct and disposition will now assume astronomical rise, I therefore urge you to justify your elevation to the apex court.
“Several novel crimes are being committed in the country and we are constantly on our toes and the dockets are ever rising in response to the challenges of the time that we are currently in which has now made litigation to go on a steady rise. No court in the land is spared of this.
“Many high profile cases would definitely come to you on appeal; and they may likely come in company of some juicy, irresistible temptations, but I am making it clear to you now that you must flee from such disguised danger.
“You must, against all odds, conduct your affairs within the ambit of the law and the oath that has just been administered on you.
“Know that your reputation and integrity matter much and count enormously in your rise to honour and fame in life, hence the need for you to flee from temptations and keep your heads high above the murky waters of corruption in order to be conveniently counted among the very best in the Nigerian judiciary,” the CJN noted.
“You must redouble your effort because onus is on you to fasten belt and roll up sleeves to face the challenges head-on,” Tanko added.
