The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges against forum shopping, concealment of related court proceedings and attempts to obtain conflicting orders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The CJN gave the warning on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the 2026 Roundtable for Heads of Courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute.
She urged judicial officers, particularly heads of courts, to remain impartial and resist political pressure and public sentiment when handling election-related disputes.
Kekere-Ekun stressed that politically sensitive cases must be determined strictly in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable court rules.
While calling on heads of courts to establish effective administrative arrangements for the timely handling of election petitions and related cases, the CJN said that judges should carefully scrutinise applications, demand full disclosure of relevant facts and consider related proceedings before granting urgent or ex parte orders.
She warned that forum shopping undermines consistency, encourages abuse of court processes and damages public confidence in the judiciary.
Kekere-Ekun also expressed concern over delays in justice delivery, noting that prolonged proceedings impose financial and emotional burdens on litigants and weaken confidence in the judicial system.
She urged heads of courts to monitor pending cases, identify causes of delays, improve hearing schedules and reduce backlogs. However, she cautioned that efficiency should not come at the expense of litigants’ right to a fair hearing.
Speaking on judicial appointments, the CJN advocated transparent, fair and merit-based selection processes, stressing the importance of competence, integrity and suitability.
She further directed heads of courts to ensure that judges commenced sittings promptly and that lawyers and litigants were informed in advance whenever court sessions were cancelled.
Emphasising professionalism in courtrooms, she said judges must treat litigants with dignity and lawyers with courtesy, while ensuring that proceedings remained free from bullying and harassment.
The CJN also called for increased investment in judicial support staff and structured mentorship programmes to prepare newly appointed judges for their responsibilities.
Also speaking at the forum, the Administrator of the NJI and retired President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, maintained that the judiciary remained under intense public scrutiny because of its responsibility to uphold justice and the rule of law.
Adejumo described the roundtable as a platform for heads of courts to discuss common challenges and develop solutions to strengthen the administration of justice.
