‘We must put an end to indiscriminate granting of exparte orders,’ CJN warns judges

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has cautioned judges against granting frivolous ex-parte orders to politicians in the country, the Oracle Today has learnt.

The CJN gave the warning after a closed-door meeting with six state Chief Judges and that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the National Judicial Council (NJC), in Abuja, Monday.

The chief judges were summoned to the NJC and the CJN over their roles in conflicting exparte orders from their jurisdictions, as the CJN Mohammed warned that the conduct will not be condoned from any Judge henceforth.

A statement issued by the Director, Information of the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, Tuesday, quoted the CJN Mohammed as admitting at being miffed by the action of the Judges and stated that a damage to one jurisdiction is a damage to all.

 “We must therefore put an end to indiscriminate granting of exparte orders, conflicting judgments or rulings occasioned by forum-shopping. 

“Your job as Heads of Court is a sacred one, and it therefore includes you vicariously taking the sins of others” the statement read in part.

Justice Mohammed urged the Heads of Court to handle political cases personally.

“There must be an end to this nonsense. You shall henceforth take absolute charge in assigning cases or matters, especially political personally.

 “We shall make example with these three Judges and never shall we condone such act,” he stated.

The statement also said that three of the Judges who granted conflicting exparte orders have been invited to appear before the National Judicial Council to show the cause why disciplinary actions should not be taken against them for granting the conflicting exparte orders.

He revealed that all Heads of Courts w be invited to a Meeting to re-emphasize the need for the Judiciary to be circumspect on the issue of granting exparte orders and will also meet with the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA,  Leadership on the issue.

The CJN advised all Heads of Court to be current on the development in the polity and the Judgments delivered by Courts of various jurisdictions and to urgently issue practice direction to guide Judges in their various courts to avoid giving conflicting decisions.

He concluded that the Judiciary will no longer condone indiscipline or allow any Judge to tarnish the image of the Judiciary.

Those interrogated by the CJN include; Chief Judge, FCT, Abuja. Chief Judges of Rivers, Kebbi, Cross River, Jigawa, Anambra and Imo states.

Meanwhile, reacting to the warning by the Chief Justice of Nigeria to judges over indiscriminate exparte orders, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Tuesday, appreciated the decision of the CJN.

INEC had earlier expressed concern over the spate of conflicting orders emanating from courts of coordinate jurisdiction, which it had described as ‘a threat to its work and democratic development in Nigeria.’

Addressing the third quarterly meeting of the commission with political parties, in Abuja, Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Tuesday, said: “What is most disconcerting for us is that the more INEC strives to improve the credibility and transparency of our electoral process, the more extraneous obstacles are put in our way through litigation.

”However, the Commission appreciates the recent statement by His Lordship the Chief Justice of Nigeria as well as the strongly worded concern by the Nigerian Bar Association.”