The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to address the backlog of pending cases and strengthen its operational efficiency.
Justice Kekere-Ekun gave the charge while receiving members of the Tribunal, led by its Chairman, Mr. Mainasara Umar, during a courtesy visit to her office in Abuja.
She urged both the CCT and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to adopt proactive measures—such as sending reminders to public institutions and agencies—to ensure timely filing of asset declarations by public officers, saying such steps would enhance compliance and accountability.
The CJN emphasized that the Tribunal must jealously guard its independence and remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law.
“Remember always that the credibility of the Tribunal, and indeed the entire judicial system, rests on the integrity and impartiality of its adjudicators,” she said. “Let your actions inspire confidence in the institution you now lead.”
A statement by the CJN’s media aide, Mr. Tobi Soniyi, noted that the Tribunal’s leadership sought the support of the judiciary to improve its capacity and address infrastructural challenges affecting its performance.
Chairman Umar lamented the poor state of facilities at the CCT but said efforts were underway to address them, while appealing for additional resources to enable the Tribunal function optimally.
In response, Justice Kekere-Ekun encouraged the panel to embrace innovative solutions to operational challenges and to remain within the jurisdiction granted by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
She also advised the Tribunal to take advantage of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) for capacity-building initiatives, including seminars and workshops, to strengthen institutional performance and staff competence.
