CJN to Auta: Don’t be distracted

By IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI
ABUJA—The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, yesterday, implored the new Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to shun public criticisms and focus on the crucial tenets of justice administration, saying he had personally suffered from undue denigration in the recent past.

Katsina-Alu, who stated this while administering oath of office on the newly- appointed Chief Judge of the FHC, yesterday, maintained that his official conduct could only be queried by God almighty.

It would be recalled that CJN is currently under probe by the National Judicial Council, NJC, following the alleged uncanny roles he played in the adjudication of the protracted gubernatorial dispute in Sokoto state.

While swearing-in Justice Auta as the substantive Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the CJN, urged him to make the rule of law his indispensable bedmate, just as he warned him to brace up for unnecessary vilifications from different quarters.

The ceremony which attracted the crème-de-la-crème of the legal profession in Abuja yesterday was held at the Supreme Court complex situated at the three arms zone.

In his speech, the CJN re-iterated his determination towards ensuring that judges paid strict allegiance to their oath of office, noting that it was the only way for the judiciary to remain relevant in the present democratic setting.

Aside enjoining the new CJ to eschew acts capable of bringing the entire judiciary to disrepute, the CJN further urged him to respect his conscience, saying he should be willing to bear the cross for his erring subordinates at all times.

According to him, “they will certainly criticize you on any mistake any of the judges under you make, however, take solace in the fact that you are not answerable to any man except God. Once you do the right thing, let anybody who wants to say anything go ahead and say it.

“You are there by the Grace of God, we owe Nigeria one thing and that is justice and fair play, once your conscience is clear, you can go on and sleep well.

“You are in charge of that court, if you know any of the judges is not forthcoming, take the case away from him and re-assign it.

“Some time we have some lawyers who don’t know facts of some cases but only gamble, you should lead them to the path of knowledge, our lawyers should always read the fact of the case before criticizing any court”, he added.

President Goodluck Jonathan had on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Justice Auta as the new Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

Auta took over from Justice Dan Abutu who on March 16, bowed out of the judiciary after clocking the 65-years mandatory retirement age for judicial officers within that cadre.

The National Judicial Council, NJC, had in line with Section 250 sub-sections (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, as amended, recommended him to the President for the position.