Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has urged judges of the Federal High Court to endeavour to deliver impeccable judgments that will not be overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Besides, Justice Ariwoola urged the judges to always study wide and consult when necessary before preparing their judgments.
The CJN gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja, while declaring open the 2023 Conference of Judges of the Federal High Court.
While stating that judges of the court should count themselves lucky for the privilege and honour, because “the Federal High Court is not the only federal court, but the best of the federal courts”.
The CJN said: “Anyone appointed into the court is very lucky” and should not take their appointments for granted.
“Work hard, do not assume what the appellate court is doing up there. Always write your judgment that the appellate court will have no choice but to affirm your decision. Don’t leave any loopholes,” he said.
According to Ariwoola, the job of a judge is not a child’s play, especially at this level when they don’t sit in a panel, hence the judges must put in their very best to excel on the job.
He warned them not to be men pleasers but always stand with the law and be fair in their decisions.
Earlier, the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, recalled how the court was established 50 years ago with a single court room and five judges in Lagos but has grown to 37 Divisions and 95 judges at the moment.
Justice Tsoho said that the 23 judges recently appointed to beef up performance of the court have since been inducted and deployed in various divisions.
“The object of this conference therefore is to critically discuss any issues confronting us as a court and seek remedies to them. We will also be addressed by practitioners in different fields of knowledge and learning, which will help us to continue to have a grip on our health and intellectual competence,” he said.
He thanked the CJN and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for their contributions to the growth of the court over the years.
