CJN advises magistrates’ on ethical conduct
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has advised newly appointed Magistrates on high ethical conduct for effective performance.
The CJN gave the advice at the opening of the first induction workshop held for 180 newly appointed Magistrates’ at the National Judicial Institute yesterday in Abuja.
The workshop titled “Promoting excellence in the administration of justice at the lower courts’’, aims to prepare the Magistrates for their new responsibilities.
“As newly appointed Magistrates’ you must be mindful of your professional duties as well as the ethical content of our code of conduct for judicial officers.
He said the code of conduct was an indispensable guide to effective performance of their duties as Magistrates.
“The code of conduct for judicial officers embodies the best ethical practices that we must adopt if we are to uphold our independence and respect for the rule of law.’’
He urged the Magistrates to judge impartially without fear or favour and affection of ill-will, irrespective of the pressures and challenges that they may encounter in the discharge of their duties.
“In your adjudication as a Magistrate, I urge each of you to remember that while justice delayed is justice denied, justice rushed, I admonish, is justice crushed,’’ Mohammed said.
The CJN advised the Magistrates to take charge of their courts and not be swayed by lawyers, litigants and court staff.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Administrator of NJI, Justice Rosaline Bozimo, urged Magistrates to imbibe the ethics and conducts of the profession in the administration of justice. (NAN)