By Time Nigeria
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, charged 19 new judges of the National Industrial Court to be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria saying that adhering strictly to this they would have no problem. The CJN also added that they should fear no one when necessary decisions are to be taken. According to him, “When you need to take hard decisions, take it, heavens will not fall. Heaven has never fallen off anybody’s judgment.
Onnoghen, made this known during the swear-in ceremony of the newly appointed judges of NIC and called on them to adhere strictly to their oath of office as well as obey the rule of law while deciding cases brought before them.
According to the CJN, the only way the judiciary could checkmate impunity in Nigeria is by ensuring they themselves adhere to the law.
“We can only checkmate impunity by adherence to the law.
“I want to advise judicial officers particularly those of you that just got sworn in to always be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the laws and your conscience.
“I assure you that as judicial officers, if you remain true to the oaths of your office, you have no problem; anything you need to function in that office is contained in the oath of office.
“If you allow yourself to be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the law, and your conscience, you can never go wrong.
“Two persons you cannot deceive – yourself and your God.”
The judges were sworn in after Acting President Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, appointed them as new NIC Judges, sequel to the recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The 19 judges are Targema John Iorngee (Benue), Namtari Mahmood Abba (Adamawa), Nweneka Gerald Ikechi (Rivers), Kado Sanusi (Katsina), Adeniyi Sinmisola Oluyinka (Ogun), Abiola Adunola Adewemimo (Osun) Opeloye Ogunbowale (Lagos), Essien Isaac Jeremiah (Akwa-Ibom) and Elizabeth Ama Oji (Ebonyi) .
Others were, Arowosegbe Olukayode Ojo (Ondo), Ogbuanya Nelson S. Chukwudi (Enugu), Bashir Zaynab Mohammed (Niger), Galadima Ibrahim Suleiman (Nasarawa), Bassi Paul Ahmed (Borno), Danjidda Salisu Hamisu (Kano), Hamman Idi Polycarp (Taraba), Damulak Kiyersohot Dashe (Plateau), Alkali Bashar Attahiru (Sokoto), and Mustapha Tijjani (Jigawa).