CJN Swears In Eight Supreme Court Judges

 Eight new Justices of the Supreme Court were sworn in on Friday by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad. This brings the number of Justices of the court from 12 to a record 20.

The eight new Justices each, in turn, took their oath of office and oath of allegiance to the Nigerian Constitution as the CJN presided.

They each climbed to the bench where their 12 seniors were already seated, and took their seat according to their positions after their swearing.

 Justice Tanko Muhammad then cautioned the eight new Justices of the Supreme Court not to allow their personal ambitions to becloud their sense of judgment.

He advised them to rather see themselves as God’s representative on earth. “Your interactions with people of unenviable inclinations and pedigree, if any, must be halted forthwith. ”

Let your conscience guide and filter every thought that traverses your mind from this moment. “I have no doubt that you may have at one time or the other been confronted with some forms of criticism or verbal assaults by litigants who lost their cases.

” I want to assure you that more of such will come your way, where appellant’s expectations are often very high and infectious “. He said that there is no way they can please human beings, especially litigants.

” I am, however, making it absolutely clear to you that the easiest way to fail in life is to try pleasing everybody. “The only deity you can fear is the Almighty God, once your judgment is in consonance with the constitution what God expects from you.

The newly inaugurated Justices of the apex court who were recently elevated from the Court of Appeal bench, included Justices Lawal Garba (North West), Helen Ogunwumiju (South West), Abdu Aboki (North West), and M. M. Saulawa (North West).

Others are Justice Adamu Jauro (North East), Samuel Oseji (South-South), Tijani Abubakar (North-East) and Emmanuel Agim (South-South).

The swearing-in, which took place at the headquarters of the Supreme Court, was sequel to the appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari and confirmed by the Senate, on the recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC).