Protocols:
It is my honour and privilege to stand before you at this time of the year, especially the New Year, to deliver a Keynote Address at the occasion of the Hybrid Refresher Course for Judicial Officers of the Superior Courts of Record. The Refresher Course for Judicial Officers of the Superior Courts of Record is not new to us, it is known to us as one of the programmes of continuing judicial education that is statutorily mandated to be implemented on an annual basis by the National Judicial Institute by virtue of its enabling legislation.
Your Excellency, the President of the Senate, My Lords, distinguished invited guests, it is important for me to point out that a convention has grown around the implementation of programmes of the National Judicial Institute, and the convention is to mark the commencement of continuing judicial education programmes of every year with a Refresher Course for Judges of the Superior Courts of Record. Having participated in several Refresher courses myself, I can say with all sincerity that the envisaged outcome of a Refresher Course for Judges of the Superior Courts of Record is to give participants a chance to appraise and examine existing laws, to review the state of the current mental attitudes, competence, knowledge and skills and how best to improve performances based on the gaps found in the course of applying the recommendations or conclusions drawn from previous continuing education programmes.
Additionally, I am aware that the Course is equally designed with the objective of evaluating how education programmes reflect on the performance of judicial functions including adherence to judicial ethics; that is adjudication based on facts presented, existing laws and evidence without given in to external or internal influence, pressure or interference be it from government, lawyers, other judges, family members or community associates. The goal is for judicial officers of the superior courts of record to be better prepared, for them to be in tune with current realities, global practices and be committed to their duties.
The theme for this Refresher Course is: Reaffirming Judicial Commitments to Justice Delivery and Modernizing judicial Practices and Procedures, reminds us of the enormous and challenging adjudicatory responsibilities placed on Judicial Officers by the Rule of law and by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. While the rule of law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 places premium on the Judiciary as the adjudicator of disputes, and notwithstanding the challenges, the Judiciary is made up of competent and capable judicial officers, who despite the difficult and near impossible working environment have been making and will continue to make necessary sacrifices and efficiently carry out its responsibility. I daresay that the judiciary has over the years not rested on its oars in assiduously contributing to the sustenance of the rule of law, democracy and ultimately, the protection of human rights and stability of the country.
Your Excellency, the President of the Senate, distinguished participants, I must also add that although, the rule of law and the separation of powers requires that each arm of government should be separate and independent, the quest for an efficient and effective justice delivery for the people makes it expedient that the arms of government work in harmonious relationship, that is one of the ways by which commitments by institutions of justice delivery and persons running them can sustain the confidence and trust of the citizens. Additionally, I am further constrained to add that an affirmation of judicial commitments to justice delivery raises other equally important matters, namely: incessant and flagrant violation or refusal to comply with the Constitution and extant provisions of the law, wilful disobedience to court Orders and Judgments as well as the fast growing prejudicial and injurious tendencies or practice of discussing and possibly predetermining the decisions in on-going court cases on television or other audio-visual medial platforms. I must also include the need for judicial officers not to compromise or be distracted from the pursuit of the rule of law and their adjudicatory duties, neither should you be engaged or be seen to be engaged in unethical conduct. I urge you to remain focused and determined in carrying out your responsibilities as judicial officers. I believe that all citizens whether in or outside of government owe it a duty to obey, defend, protect and jealously guard the provisions of the Constitution, that being the organic law of our dear country. This must not be seen as a notion, rhetoric but reality and I implore every one especially those concerned to reconsider their attitudes on these matters with the fear of God, the interest of justice and the rule of law.
Still on the thematic issues, raised by the Refresher Course, a re-affirmation of judicial commitments to justice delivery reminds us about the problems of protracted delay experienced by parties in the course of justice, thus the topical discussions and recommendations from this Course must include best practice approaches for avoiding delay in dispensing justice and thereby reinforcing public confidence and trust in the judiciary.
I have had the opportunity of reading through the Programme of the Course, and I can attest without doubt in my mind that the contents of each session will be handled by high calibre resource persons who will address matters of substantive law, practice and procedure, judicial ethics and social context issues that will indeed reaffirm our commitments to justice delivery. I am gratified to observe in advance that participants at this Refresher Course will fully engage themselves in a fruitful deliberation.
Finally, I would like to express warm appreciation to the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Chief Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, CFR, for again accepting our invitation as part of the faculty of resource persons at this Refresher Course. I would like to thank my brother Justices of the Supreme Court, the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, Heads of Courts here present and indeed all participants and invited guests at this Refresher Course.
I would also like to commend the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Hon Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi and his Management and staff for setting the scene and necessary arrangements for this course. On behalf of the Judiciary of Nigeria, and the National Judicial Institute, it is my pleasure to formally declare the Hybrid Refresher Course for Judicial Officers of the Superior Courts of Record for 2024 open.
I thank you for your kind attention, and may God bless us all.
Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON,
Chief Justice of Nigeria