The Chief Justice of Nigeria has called on court administrators across the country to uphold strong ethical standards in order to maintain public confidence in the judiciary.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, made the appeal in Abuja during the opening of a national workshop on judicial ethics organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
She stressed that the integrity and credibility of the judiciary depend not only on judges but also on the administrative staff who manage court operations and processes. According to her, judicial administrators play a vital role in ensuring that cases are properly scheduled, records are maintained, resources are managed, and court users are well served.
Represented at the event by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa of the Supreme Court, she explained that the judiciary operates as a single system where both judicial officers and administrators must function efficiently for justice delivery to be effective.
She warned that when administrative processes fail, public perception of the judiciary can be negatively affected, even if judges have acted properly in their decisions. She added that lapses in court administration often lead to unfair assumptions of inefficiency or bias within the justice system.
The CJN further noted that ethics in judicial administration forms the foundation of institutional trust, describing judicial administrators as holders of significant responsibility and public confidence.
She also highlighted the growing impact of technology in court operations, stating that while digital systems have improved efficiency, they also introduce new ethical challenges such as data protection, cybersecurity, and transparency. She emphasized that technology must be used responsibly to strengthen, not weaken, the justice system.
Kekere-Ekun urged court officials to remain vigilant and professional in handling digital tools and stressed that integrity in administration is essential to maintaining the independence and dignity of the judiciary.
Also speaking at the workshop, Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Babatunde Adejumo, said the programme was designed to strengthen the role of judicial administrators, who he described as the backbone of court operations. He noted that their responsibilities go beyond routine tasks to include policy implementation and institutional management.
He added that judicial administrators must combine technical expertise with strong ethical judgment to ensure the justice system functions effectively and maintains public trust.
