We have petitions against judges with conflicting judgements – CJN

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Monday said the National Judicial Council had received petitions against some judges who delivered conflicting judgement.
Mohammed said investigation is ongoing.
The CJN further stated that appropriate actions would be taken against any of the judges found guilty at the end of the investigation.
There have been a couple of conflicting judgements in recent times, both at the level of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court.
The most recent involves judgements on the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, emanating from both Abuja and Port Harcourt Divisions of the Federal High Court.
The CJN, who was delivering his address at the special session of the Supreme Court to mark the commencement of the 2016/2017 legal year and swearing-in of newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria, also ‎blamed the delay in the delivery on justice on lawyers.
He said: “While we all rush to rehash the age-old‎ rhetoric that justice delayed is justice denied, the actions of our key stakeholders, particularly members of the bar, have often proven to be far from words.
“Sadly, certain members of the Bar are conspicuous in utilizing unethical, frivolous applications and appeals, multiplicity of actions in courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction and other act of calumny to frustrate the speedy dispensation of justice.
“The Supreme Court takes a dim view of such delays and we will constantly introduce measures to reduce delay in the administration of justice as the past year’s statistics will doubtless testify.”
Justice Mohammed further expressed dismay over the growing trend of the disregard for laid down precedent in decisions from various levels of courts, especially at the appellate court.
He stated that every court in Nigeria is bound by the decis‎ions of the Supreme Court and shall not graft a different outcome from those expressly laid down by the Supreme Court.
Mohammed said: “Several conflicting decisions were recklessly dished out by the Court of Appeal last year in appeals arising from various decisions of the Election Petitions Tribunals, given on election petitions filed by parties who lost in the general elections conducted in April 2015.
“Such decisions were made as a result of flagrant refusal of the Panels of the Court of Appeal involved to be bound not only by its own decisions but also by the decision of this court.”
The CJN also warned lawyers to cease writing petitions against judicial officers directly to President Muhammadu Buhari.
He gave judges in the country the marching order to deal with any lawyer that maligns them.
Mohammed advised lawyers to address their petition to the National Judicial Council, which, he promised, will ac‎t on it without delay.
He charged the new SANs to imbibe the highest tenets of integrity and humility that befitting their status.
In his own speech, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, expressed concern over conflicting judgements from various courts in the land.
Malami, who was represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Taiwo Abidogun, called on the leadership of the judiciary to move fast in order to prevent the continuation of such occurrence.
He also charged the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee‎ to come up with a policy, which will further ensure that those who are admitted into the inner bar are qualified both in practice and character.
He charged the new SANs to remain shining lights in the practice of law.
Speaking on behalf of the body of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief T.J. Onomigbo Okpoko noted that the judiciary in the nation had in recent time witnessed the show of shame brought about by court of co-ordinate jurisdictions assuming jurisdiction to hear the same dispute between the same parties and delivering verdicts that are totally in conflict with one another.
Okpoko however called on the CJN and the NJC to step in immediately to do the damage control so as to save the justice system from further ridicule.
The President of the Nigeria Bar Association, A.B Mahmud, in his own address‎ reiterated the need for the bar to guard the reputation of the judiciary jealously.
Mahmud said: “On our part, we shall continue to be strong advocates of the greater independence of the judiciary.
“But that means we will fight even those within who seek to undermine it’s reputation.”
Speaking on the state of the nation, Mahmud admitted that the country is facing daunting challenges.
According to him: “Getting out of our present situation demands concerted efforts of all citizens and all institutions.
“The expectation of the legal profession is enormous.
“We must demonstrate patriotism and leadership as well as knowledge and skills.
“We must work to enhance confidence in the legal system, promote the rule of law, guarantee protection of citizens as well promote the sanctity of contractual obligations thereby improving the business environment.”
Speaking on behalf of the new SANs, the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Olanrewaju Onadeko, called for an effective pupilage system for new entrants into the legal profession, adding that such will avail them of a period of hands-on apprenticeship in law establishments, for a total comprehension of law practice.
Earlier, the CJN had stated that the Supreme Court heard 1,489 matters, of which 908 were motions and 581 were substantive appeals.
He added that the court delivered 268 judgements.
Justice Mohammed is however proceeding on retirement in November.