The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has garnered support from the advocacy group Citizens’ Gavel in her push for judicial reforms and the fight against corruption. This endorsement arrives as criticism mounts over delayed justice and allegations of widespread graft within the judiciary.
In a statement on Friday, signed by Sylvester Agih, Legal Associate at Citizens’ Gavel, the organization commended Justice Kekere-Ekun’s recognition of inefficiencies in the judiciary. The CJN addressed these issues at the 3rd Annual National Judicial Council (NJC) Conference on Judges’ Performance Evaluation in Abuja, emphasizing that delayed justice equates to denied justice.
Citizens’ Gavel highlighted that her candid assessment echoes their mission to protect Nigerians’ rights and ensure justice. They stressed that delayed judgments erode public confidence and disproportionately harm vulnerable citizens. The statement called on judicial officers to fulfill their roles with urgency and integrity, noting the significant backlog of cases undermining the judiciary’s credibility.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s stance has sparked hope for urgent reform to enhance efficiency and restore public trust in Nigeria’s judicial system.