2027: Your Conduct Will Be Monitored, CJN Warns Tribunal Judges

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges who may serve on election petition tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections to maintain strict impartiality and ensure their conduct does not create any perception of political bias.

Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Wednesday during the flag-off ceremony of the 2026/2027 legal year of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja.

The CJN noted that some judges of the National Industrial Court could, under the constitutional and legal framework, be called upon to serve on Election Petition Tribunals.

She said such assignments would involve the determination of politically sensitive disputes that attract significant public attention, making impartiality, restraint and detachment particularly important.

Kekere-Ekun urged judges to remain conscious that their conduct would be closely scrutinised, both while sitting in their regular courts and when performing tribunal assignments.

She advised them to ensure that their associations, public engagements and other activities did not create a reasonable perception of political alignment or predisposition.

The CJN also cautioned lawyers against manipulating the judicial process for partisan or strategic purposes, particularly by filing similar cases before different courts in search of a favourable judge or outcome.

According to her, the appropriate forum for a case should be determined by law rather than by the perceived likelihood of success before a particular judge or court. Such practices, she warned, could produce conflicting judgments and undermine confidence in the judiciary.

She further called for restraint in public commentary on judicial proceedings, saying criticism of judgments should not become personal attacks on judges, deliberate misrepresentation of proceedings or attempts to pressure courts through public opinion.

Kekere-Ekun also raised concerns about the increasing use of artificial intelligence in legal research, warning lawyers that AI-generated authorities must be independently verified before being presented in court.

She said AI systems could generate fabricated cases, inaccurate citations or quotations that do not appear in actual judgments, stressing that lawyers remain professionally responsible for the authorities they submit.

The CJN’s warning comes as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, with election tribunals expected to play a significant role in resolving disputes arising from the polls.