The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has charged the newly appointed 11 Justices of the Supreme Court to brace up to the task ahead and to remain upright and impartial at all times.
Speaking after administering the oath of office on the new jurist, the CJN said they should begin to see themselves as representatives of God on earth as their judgments can only be upturned in heaven.
He, however, warned them to brace up to receive verbal assaults from dissatisfied litigants.
He said: “You must not, therefore, allow your ambition or any extraneous considerations to cloud your sense of judgment.
“Your interactions with people of unenviable inclinations and pedigree, if any, must be halted forthwith.
“Let your conscience guide and filter every thought that traverses your mind from this moment.
“I do not doubt that you may have at one time or the other, been confronted with some forms of criticisms or verbal assaults by litigants who have lost their cases.
“I want to assure you that more of such will come your way, especially as you now assume duties in the final court of the land where Appellants’ expectations are often very high and infectious.
“There is no way you can please human beings, especially litigants. That is what it is!
“I am, however, making it abundantly clear to your Lordships that the easiest way to fail in life is by trying to please everyone.
The only deity you can fear is the Almighty God. Once your judgement aligns with what God expects from you and is also by the Constitution, you should consider yourself the happiest and freest person on earth.
“Aside from that, every other thing you hear around you is mere noise or baseless agitation, which will naturally pale into insignificance when the chips are down.”
He noted that with the appointment of the new jurists, the Supreme Court has attained its full complement of 21 justices.
“This is, indeed, an epoch-making ceremony. I am very much exhilarated to not only witness but also be privileged to administer the oath on these 11 eminent Supreme Court Justices.
It is a memory I will cherish all my life because it is unprecedented in the annals of the Nigerian Supreme Court,” the CJN added.
The new Supreme Court Justices that were worn-in on Monday include Justices Haruna Tsammani (North-east) who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Court, Moore Adumein (South-south), Jummai Sankey (North-central), Chidiebere Uwa (South-east) and Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South-east)
Others are Obande Ogbuinya (South-east), Stephen Adah (North-central, a member of the Presidential Election Petition Court), Habeeb Abiru (South-west), JJamilu Tukur (North-west), Abubakar Umar (North-west) and Mohammed Idris (North-central).
The historic ceremony was witnessed by some State Governors, senior members of the legal communities, Captains of industries, political office holders, friends and family members of the new judicial officers.
