TheCable

Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), says political cases are taking a monumental toll on the docket courts across the country.

The CJN spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during the swearing-in of justices of the court of appeal.

“Several novel crimes are being committed in the country that have now made litigations to go on a steady rise,” he said.

“Political cases, especially, are taking a monumental toll on our dockets. Indeed, the times we are in are not pleasant, to say the least. 

“No court in the land is spared of this. We are constantly on our toes and the dockets are ever-rising in response to the challenges of the time. 

“This underscores the undisputed fact that Nigeria continuously ranks among the most litigious countries In the world. 

“I strongly believe it is high time we began to imbibe the culture of less litigation and more of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms so that our courts can be freed of unnecessary burden and depletion of both human and material resources.”

Ariwoola admonished the newly elevated justices saying you have “to fasten your belt and roll up your sleeves to face the challenges head-on”.

“You must redouble your pace to catch up with the expectations of the litigants,” the CJN said.

“As judicial officers, you have a divine mandate on earth that you must discharge with unveiled honesty and sincerity. 

“You must give a good account of yourselves to justify your elevation to the court of appeal so that you can subsequently earn an elevation to the supreme court to further actualize your dreams.”

The newly sworn-in justices are Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun (Kaduna); Binta Fatima Zubairu (Kaduna); Peter Chudi Obiora (Anambra); Okon Efreti Abang (Akwa Ibom) and Asma’u Musa Mainoma.

Others are Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu (Oyo); Jane Esienanwan Iyang (Cross River); Hadiza Rabiu Shagari (Sokoto) and Paul Ahmed Bassi from Borno.