By Oluwakemi Kindness
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged judges to guard against forum shopping and conflicting court orders as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Kekere-Ekun gave the warning during the opening session of the 2026 Roundtable for Heads of Courts in Abuja, stressing that political pressure must not influence judicial decisions.
She identified forum shopping, concealment of related court proceedings and attempts to obtain conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction as practices that threaten the integrity of judicial proceedings.
The CJN urged judges to scrutinise applications carefully, demand full disclosure of relevant facts and resist attempts to use urgent applications or ex-parte orders to gain improper advantages in political disputes.
She said election-related cases often attract intense public interest and pressure, adding that courts must remain impartial and decide cases based on the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable laws.
Kekere-Ekun also called on heads of courts to address delays in the justice system through better case management, improved scheduling and measures to reduce the backlog of pending cases.
She further urged judicial leaders to ensure transparent, merit-based appointments, promote professional standards and protect the judiciary from external interference.
The CJN also directed heads of courts to ensure judges sit on time, promptly notify lawyers and litigants of cancelled sittings, and treat all court users with dignity.
She said maintaining public confidence in the judiciary requires fairness, accountability and the timely delivery of justice.
