Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to fiercely safeguard its independence and uphold the highest standards of integrity as it carries out its constitutional responsibilities.
She gave the charge in Abuja while receiving the Tribunal’s Chairman, Mainasara Umar, and other members during a courtesy visit to her office.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the CJN’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Tobi Soniyi, Umar used the visit to seek the judiciary’s support in strengthening the Tribunal’s operational capacity and improving its overall efficiency.
He expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the Tribunal’s facilities but assured that efforts were underway to address the challenges. Umar further appealed for greater resource allocation to enable the Tribunal function optimally.
Responding, Justice Kekere-Ekun urged the Tribunal to embrace innovative and pragmatic strategies to overcome its operational difficulties, especially the backlog of cases awaiting adjudication.
She reminded the CCT to strictly adhere to the limits of its jurisdiction as outlined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The CJN also emphasised the need for closer collaboration between the Tribunal and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to strengthen enforcement of asset declaration requirements by public officers.
She suggested proactive measures, such as issuing early reminders to public officials and institutions to ensure compliance before deadlines.
Reiterating the weight of the oath they swore, Justice Kekere-Ekun tasked Tribunal members with maintaining impartiality, courage, and fidelity to the law.
“Always remember that the credibility of the Tribunal—and indeed the entire justice system—rests on the integrity and impartiality of its adjudicators. Let your conduct inspire public confidence in the institution you lead,” she said.
She further encouraged the Tribunal to take full advantage of capacity-building programmes offered by the National Judicial Institute through seminars and workshops for both adjudicators and administrative staff.
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