The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has issued a stern warning to judicial officers across the country to guard against external political pressure, refrain from issuing conflicting rulings, and put an immediate end to the abuse of ex parte orders and forum shopping. ​Justice Kekere-Ekun delivered the charge on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the 2026 refresher course for judicial officers.
Speaking before an audience of heads of courts, court administrators, and legal practitioners, the CJN emphasized that all electoral disputes ahead of the upcoming political cycle must be determined strictly in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act. ​Addressing the persistent challenge of forum shopping, a practice where litigants deliberately seek out favorable jurisdictions, the CJN described the tactic, along with the concealment of related proceedings, as deeply damaging to the judiciary’s integrity.
She noted that when courts of coordinate jurisdiction issue contradictory decisions on similar issues, public trust is systematically eroded and institutional anarchy is encouraged. To curb these abuses, Justice Kekere-Ekun directed judges to exercise extreme restraint and thoroughly scrutinize applications before granting ex parte motions, particularly in politically sensitive matters.
​The CJN also underscored the broader administrative obligations of judicial officers, urging court heads to enforce strict case management protocols to eliminate docket backlogs and prolonged litigation that place financial and emotional burdens on citizens. She stressed that punctuality must be treated as a professional obligation and directed courts to ensure timely communication to litigants whenever sittings are unavoidably delayed.
Furthermore, she called for transparent, merit-based judicial appointments to safeguard the independence of the bench from political influence. ​In his welcome remarks, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo (retd.), commended the CJN for her ongoing judicial reform initiatives aimed at strengthening independence and integrity across the third arm of government.
He acknowledged the support of the NJI Board of Governors’ Education Committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice John Inyang Okoro, JSC, in structuring continuous education programs designed to equip judges with the tools required to navigate complex constitutional and electoral jurisprudence. ​
Justice Kekere-Ekun concluded with a firm reminder that the National Judicial Council (NJC) will not hesitate to impose severe disciplinary sanctions on any magistrate or judge found compromising judicial standards, assisting litigants in forum shopping, or issuing contradictory orders to serve partisan interests.
