The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, on Monday urged judges to shun acts capable of contributing to the growing culture of injustice as it breeds disunity among the people.
Speaking at the inauguration of Justice Abdul Adamu Kafarati as the acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court weekend, Mr Onnoghen advised the nation’s judges to be guided at all times by the constitution.
The CJN said rule of law is above everything and the only way to ensure unity was for judges to promote justice at all times.
“It is a fact that injustice breeds disunity and the only way to avoid disunity is to allow the rule of law to run its full course.
“As judges, we must be ready to return the judiciary to the golden era that commanded respect and we must not attempt in any way to satisfy everybody as our duty is to save who is right and let those who are wrong to be aware.
“Let me emphasise that no judge will have problems when he upholds the constitution and the rule of law. Nothing is greater than the rule of law and as judges, we must promote this in our judgments.
”He went on to charge the acting Chief Judge to be guided always by his oath of office as a judicial officer, saying he has been saddled with more responsibilities by virtue of his new posting,” he said.
Mr Onnoghen then called on the judges of the Federal High Court to cooperate with the acting chief judge to succeed, saying the Federal High Court is strategic owing to its enormous functions.
He also praised the immediate-past chief judge, Ibrahim Auta, for his contributions to the growth of the judiciary, especially for taking justice to the doorstep of every Nigerian, adding that history would be kind to him.
Mr Kafarati was born in 1954 at Kwami, in the present Gombe State and attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between 1975 and 1978. He enrolled at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1978 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1979.
He joined the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice as a State Counsel 11 in 1980 and became a judge of the Federal High Court on October 31, 1991.
