The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged court administrators in the country to remain committed to their professional ethics as a way of sustaining public trust in the judicial system.
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Justice Kekere-Ekun noted that the effectiveness, credibility, and integrity of the Judiciary depend not only on the conduct of judges but also on the professionalism and ethical conduct of those who sustain the administrative machinery of the courts.
The CJN spoke in Abuja on Monday during the opening session of a national workshop on judicial ethics for judicial administrators, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
While stating that judicial administrators remain indispensable partners in the administration of justice, the CJN noted that the Judiciary functions as a single institutional ecosystem.
She said within the single institutional ecosystem, the judges interpret and apply the law, while judicial administrators ensure “that justice moves; that cases are scheduled, records preserved, processes managed, resources accounted for, and court users properly served.”
Represented by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa (of the Supreme Court), the CJN noted that where the administration of justice functions efficiently and ethically, justice is accessible, but that “where administrative integrity falters, even the soundest judicial pronouncements may fail to inspire public confidence.
“Indeed, where registry officials fail or neglect to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, timeliness, and professionalism, the unfortunate consequence is that judicial officers are often unfairly perceived as inefficient or biased.
“Administrative lapses within the court system frequently translate, in the eyes of the public, into doubts about judicial integrity, even where judges themselves bear no responsibility for such shortcomings.
“Ethics in judicial administration is therefore the operational foundation upon which judicial legitimacy rests. Judicial administrators occupy positions of profound institutional trust,” the CJN said.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, who noted that the integration of technology and other innovations to court operations has transformed the system, said it has also imposed heightened ethical responsibilities in relation to data protection, cybersecurity, transparency, and responsible use of digital platforms.
She said the deployment of technology in court operations must be guided by ethical governance, adding that digital tools should be used to strengthen institutional integrity rather than expose the justice system to vulnerabilities or compromise due process.
The CJN, who stressed the importance of judicial administrators to the effective functioning of the court system, said they must exercise vigilance, professionalism, and sound judgment in navigating the digital environment.
She added, “The Judiciary can only command enduring public trust when every officer within its structure understands that integrity in administration is inseparable from integrity in adjudication.
“Professionalism by court officials is therefore not merely administrative efficiency; it is an essential pillar in sustaining the dignity, credibility, and independence of the Nigerian Judiciary.”
The Administrator of the NJI, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said the workshop was convened in recognition of the central role that judicial administrators occupy within the justice system.
Justice Adejumo noted that the court administrators, like Chief Registrars, Heads of Judicial Service Committees and Commissions, Deputy Chief Registrars, and Senior Administrative Officers, constitute the institutional backbone upon which the functionality, continuity, and credibility of the courts depend.
He added that their responsibilities extend beyond routine administration to institutional stewardship because they implement policies, manage processes, and enforce standards through their offices.
The NJI Administrator said that, in view of their important roles, judicial administrators are required to operate with both technical competence and ethical clarity, a requirement that informed the workshop.
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