The chief justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, has called on Nigerians to imbibe alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms instead of going to court to settles cases.
Ariwoola made the recommendation during the swearing in of nine additional justices for the Court of Appeal in Abuja yesterday.
He said Nigeria is ranked among countries with a large number of litigations in the world.
He said political cases take a monumental toll on the judiciary while other cases are piling up in the courts and putting the judges under pressure.
“The times we are in are not pleasant, to say the least. No court in the land is spared of this. We are constantly on our toes and the dockets are ever rising in response to the challenges of the time.
“This underscores the undisputed fact that Nigeria continuously ranks among the most litigious countries in the world.
“I strongly believe it is high time we began to imbibe the culture of less litigation and more of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms so that our courts can be freed of unnecessary burden and depletion of both human and material resources,” he said.
Addressing the judges, Ariwoola charged them to fasten their belts, roll up their sleeves and redouble their effort to catch up with the expectations of litigants.
“As judicial officers, you have a divine mandate on earth that you must discharge with unveiled honesty and sincerity.
“You must give good account of yourselves to justify your elevation to the court of appeal so that you can subsequently earn an elevation to the Supreme Court to further actualise your dreams,” he said.
The chief justice also told the judges to resist mouthwatering offers when they adjudicate on cases.
“Many high-profile cases would definitely come to you on appeal and they may likely come in some juicy and irresistible gifts that are often intended to dent your reputation and integrity.
“Flee from such disguised temptations because your reputation and integrity matter much and count enormously in your rise to honour and fame in life,” he added.
He also urged them conduct their affairs within the ambit of the law and the oath they had taken saying the level of public scrutiny of their conduct would from thenceforth “assume astronomical dimension because you have willingly taken up an appointment that will strategically place you perennially in the eye of the storm.”
The new justices are Hannatu Laja-Balogun from Kaduna State, Binta Zubairu, Kaduna State; Peter Obiora, Anambra State, and Okon Abang from Akwa Ibom, and Asma’u Mainoma, Federal Capital Territory,
The others are Lateef Ganiyu from Oyo State, Jane Iyang, Cross River State, Hadiza Shagari, Sokoto State, and Paul Ahmed Bassi, Borno State.
