Federal High Court CJ Urges Judges to Be Steadfast, Courageous in Justice Dispensation

•Carries over 144, 910 cases into 2023/2024 legal year

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Chief Judge (CJ) of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho has charged judges on the bench of the Court to be bold and courageous in the discharge of their legal duties.

Justice Tsoho gave the charge just as he reminded the judges that they have over 140,000 cases to adjudicate upon in addition to others that may come up in the new legal year.

He spoke on Monday in Abuja, during a special Court Session to mark the beginning of the 2023/2024 Legal Year, and the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

The CJ who noted that the nation’s judiciary is on trial, stressed that judges as critical stakeholders in the justice sector must rise up in ensuring the independence and sacredness of the judiciary which he described as the hallowed temple of justice.

According to him, the Federal High Court has had a significant influence on how the law is interpreted, how the legal system is shaped and how justice is dispensed and perceived adding added that various Chief Judges of the Court have made series of Rules, Practice Directions and innovations to guide practice and ensure speedy and quality administration of justice in the court.

Justice Tsoho disclosed that on assumption of office he set up a special task force to handle the influx of pre-election matters, which he said was a timely intervention that saved the country from a possible political collapse.

While noting that, “The Federal High Court had been a beacon of hope for those seeking justice, a guardian of the Constitution and a defender of the rule of law”, Tsoho pointed out that the court has evolved with the times, adapting to new legal challenges and complexities, and remains a symbol of integrity and impartiality.

Meanwhile, Tsoho disclosed that the court in the last legal year disposed of 12, 870, out of a total of 15,025 cases filed in the 2022/2023 legal year.

“When the leftover of 2, 155 cases are added to the total number of cases carried over from the previous year, being 142, 755, we have a total of 144, 910 cases pending at the end of the last legal year.

“This comprised of 42,784 civil cases, 36,061 criminal cases, 41,447 motions and 24,618 fundamental rights enforcement applications pending at the end of the last legal year”, he said.

Speaking on the court’s 50th anniversary, Tsoho, who recalled how the court started in Lagos with one Court and five Judges, stated that as at today, the court now has 38 Judicial Divisions and 95 Judges, adding that the court has recorded huge growth and has become a significant pillar in the hierarchy of the Nigerian Judiciary.

The Chief Judge thanked the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola for his humility and ready disposition to proffer solutions to challenges.

He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Judicial Council NJC for their unyielding support and understanding and assured that the court would perform better in the new legal year.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) told the Judges of the Federal High Court not to be scared of being dynamic adding that, Judges must be creative.

“We must stand up to do all it requires for Justices to be done in the country. We need to fast track for justice to be seen to have been done”, he added and expressed worry that civil matters suffer in court as a result of political matters which are given priority.