The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Thursday urged judges to employ alternative dispute resolution processes to ensure speedy justice delivery and court decongestion.
Mohammed made the call at the Supreme Court, Abuja, while swearing in five new judges of Federal Capital Territory High Courts.
He said the benefits of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration, mediation and conciliation to speedy justice delivery and case backlog reduction in the system could not be overemphasised.
He said: “Although, you are all aware of these benefits.
“Alternative dispute resolution can reduce the time and cost of justice, which simultaneously reduces the burden on litigants and case backlog.
“We need to explore innovative ways to speed up the administration of justice and measurable progress.
“That is why, as judicial officers, I urge you to imbibe best practices in court and case management, to be implacable in the face of corruption and to be unimpeachable in your manners.”
Mohammed announced that cases disposed through utilization of alternative dispute resolution processes would henceforth form part of judicial officers’ performance.
According to him, this will be forwarded to the National Judicial Council in the judges’ performance evaluation quarterly returns.
“It is hoped that the incentive will galvanise judges to employ legitimate, non-adjudicatory measures and ultimately increase the disposal rate of cases,” he said.
The CJN charged the new judges to beware of “nefarious characters” who might be out to test their judicial integrity, especially as their appointment came when the nation was moving toward electioneering era.
“As judicial officers, series of temptations will come your way, but the ability to resist them will definitely stand you out and earn you a lasting reputation on the bench,” he said.
He warned that the NJC would punish judges that indulged in judicial misconduct.
Mohammed, therefore, urged them to embrace the code of conduct for judicial officers and make it their permanent companion.
The new Justices are Baba Idris (Taraba), Bello Kawu (Gombe), Ogbonnaya Nwamaka (Enugu), Aniete Ebang (Akwa-Ibom) and Udukwu Umar (Ebonyi).