By our reporter/ The chief justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhammad, (CJN), on Monday directed three judges to appear before the National Judicial Council (NJC) to show cause why they should not be punished for granting the conflicting ex parte orders.
The CJN who also warned judges against issuing conflicting orders, stated this at a marathon meeting he held with six chief judges in Abuja on Monday over conflicting ex parte orders recently made by courts across the country.
According to a statement NJC spokesman, Soji Oye, the meeting which commenced at 11am lasted till 5:30pm with the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory also in attendance.
Oye said the CJN first had a one-on-one interaction with the Chief Judges of the FCT, Abuja, and then the CJs of Rivers, Kebbi, Cross River, Jigawa, Anambra, and Imo.
“Each of the CJs present was separately quizzed personally by the CJN for over an hour before he later read the riot act in a joint session with all of them,” the statement said.
“A damage to one jurisdiction is a damage to all. We must, therefore, put an end to indiscriminate granting of ex parte orders, conflicting judgements 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. 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 an example with three judges and never shall we condone such act.”
Three judges who granted conflicting ex parte orders have been invited to appear before the NJC.
Their identities were not revealed but Oye said they have been asked to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.
The CJN further warned the judges to avoid “unnecessary assumption of jurisdiction in matters with similar subject and parties already before another court, protect the court from lawyers that are out for forum shopping, and work in tandem with all their Judges to salvage the image of the judiciary”, the statement further stated.
“Justice Muhammad also warned the CJs [against] making newly appointed judicial officers vacation judges and assigning complex cases to inexperienced judges.”
“He revealed that all heads of courts will be invited to a meeting to reemphasise the need for the judiciary to be circumspect on the issue of granting ex parte orders and will also meet with the 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.”