The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to speed up the handling of pending matters and work towards improving the efficiency of its justice delivery system.
Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized that both the CCT and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) must adopt proactive measures, such as sending timely reminders to public institutions and agencies to file their declarations before deadlines, to further improve compliance.
The CJN made the remarks while receiving members of the Tribunal, led by Chairman Mr. Mainasara Umar, at her office. The CCT is mandated to try public officers who breach their code of conduct, particularly regarding false or anticipatory asset declarations.
Addressing the tribunal members, Justice Kekere-Ekun urged them to jealously guard the independence of the tribunal. She reminded them to operate strictly within the jurisdiction conferred by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and to uphold the law without fear or favor, affection, or ill-will.
“Remember always that the credibility of the Tribunal, and indeed the entire judicial system, rests on the integrity and impartiality of its adjudicators. Let your actions inspire confidence in the institution you now lead,” she added.
According to a statement by the CJN’s media aide, Mr. Tobi Soniyi, the tribunal team sought support to make the institution more efficient and better equipped to deliver on its mandate. Chairman Umar highlighted the deplorable state of the tribunal’s facilities and said steps had been taken to address the challenges. He requested the judiciary’s support to ensure the tribunal receives the resources necessary to function optimally.
On capacity building, the CJN reminded the tribunal of the availability of the National Judicial Institute to assist in providing targeted training through seminars and workshops for both tribunal members and supporting staff. She encouraged the panel to adopt innovative approaches to resolving challenges and maintaining high standards of judicial integrity.
