The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has assured Nigerians that the judiciary will handle disputes arising from the 2019 general elections with fairness.
Justice Onnoghen made this declaration on Monday at the inauguration of 30 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja.
“As we prepare for the 2019 general elections, I reiterate that the judiciary will in determining electoral disputes, continue to play the role of Independent and dispassionate arbiter without fear or favour; affection or ill-will.
“However, the court must partner with key stakeholders to play a critical role in the sensitization and voter education to ensure that eligible members of the public are properly enlightened,” he said.
Onnoghen disclosed that the Supreme Court treated 1, 439 cases including motions, 438 appeals and 192 criminal matters in the previous year.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro (SAN), charged the new SANs to be humble in their relations with other lawyers, explaining that the privilege bestowed by the new rank could be withdrawn at any time on grounds of misconduct.
Thirty one individuals were shortlisted out of the 164 lawyers who applied for the rank. However, the CJN said Ikhide Ehighelua was dropped by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) over misconduct.
Among the inductees was the first female professor to become a SAN, Oluyemisi Adefunke Bamgbose.
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