He has called upon judges in Nigeria to consistently apply constitutional provisions in their decisions on cases brought before them.

Justice Ariwoola made this clarification during the inauguration of 23 Judges for the Federal High Court of Nigeria at the Supreme Court in Abuja.

He acknowledged that the judiciary frequently faces harsh criticism, but he stressed that public opinion, regardless of its seriousness, cannot take precedence over the Constitution.

The CJN explained that judicial officers have a responsibility to uphold moral rectitude and acceptable conduct while earning the trust of the Nigerian populace, especially those who rely on them for justice.

He emphasized the importance of the judicial oath and the need for judges to be above temptations and trials.

Justice Ariwoola stated, “The bench is neither for the indolent, the greedy nor those with dubious character, who can easily fall for a plate of porridge offered by desperate litigants.

“You must, at all times, rise above temptations and trials that might obstruct or even halt your rise to the pinnacle of your career. We are all humans, no doubt, but you display the humanism in you by doing those extraordinary things that people would ordinarily conclude that you cannot do.”

He highlighted that judicial appointments are not pathways to wealth, dishonesty, or ostentatious lifestyles through corrupt connections, emphasizing that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has the means to detect and address any form of corruption or misconduct among judicial officers.

The CJN concluded by reminding the newly appointed judges of their duty to be impartial, fair, and just in all matters they preside over.

He stressed the importance of upholding justice, especially in the challenging times Nigeria faces.

Justice Ariwoola emphasized the vital role judges play in upholding the Constitution and ensuring justice for all citizens, while also warning against any unethical behavior that may tarnish the judiciary’s reputation.

Maikyau made the call on Monday at the Annual Legal Year Ceremony of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Decrying the poor working condition of the court and the welfare of justices, he urged the government “to deliberately invest in the welfare of Judges and Justices by strengthening the human capital within the justice sector and meeting all the infrastructural needs of the judiciary as a matter of urgency”.

The welfare of judges has been an issue for some time now and attracted national attention recently when justices of the Supreme raised the matter.

According to Maikyau, salaries and allowances of judges and justices in the country have remained the same since 2008 and that has had a negative impact on justice and justice delivery in the country.

Also, he emphasized the need for the judiciary to be truly independent and described as worrisome the fact that “none of the presidential candidates for the upcoming  2023 election, who attended the Opening Ceremony of the just concluded NBA-AGC on the 21st August 2022 spared any thought on the independence of the judiciary”.

Maikyau called on “the Federal Government to revisit the 2018 Report of the Committee on the Review of Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service, to bring same in tune with our present-day realities and give effect to the final recommendations that will arise therefrom.”