Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned court registrars and judicial administrators nationwide to uphold ethical conduct, stressing that their behaviour directly affects public trust in the judiciary. Speaking at the National Workshop on Ethics for Judicial Administrators in Abuja on Monday, she warned that delays, discourtesy, lack of transparency, or administrative inefficiency leave litigants with the impression that the entire justice system is compromised. Represented by Supreme Court Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, Kekere-Ekun emphasized that modern citizens demand efficiency, accountability, and timely dispute resolution—expectations that depend not only on judicial excellence but also on ethical, competent administration. She underscored core principles such as integrity, impartiality, confidentiality, and diligence, urging court officials to resist personal interests, external pressures, or relationships that could influence their duties. Judicial administrators, she said, must never act as gateways to preferential treatment or informal access to justice, and must safeguard sensitive case information to preserve litigants' rights. The CJN reiterated that their loyalty lies with the court as an institution, not with relatives, friends, or legal practitioners. Justice Babatunde Adejumo, Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, described the participants as the institutional backbone of the courts, with roles extending to maintaining the credibility of the justice system. The five-day workshop will cover records management, staff discipline, professional boundaries, and service standards. Facilitators include Mrs. Nnenna Onuoha, Chief Registrar of Ebonyi State High Court; Murtala Halidu of Kaduna State Judicial Service Commission; and Tajudeen Karanga, Chief Registrar of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun highlights that court administrators shape public perception of the judiciary, yet many of the same officials presiding over delayed cases and missing case files remain in place without sanction. When registrars in Ebonyi, Kaduna, and Kwara continue in roles tied to procedural breakdowns, the ethics workshop risks being another ritual without consequence. Public confidence is not restored by speeches but by visible accountability for past administrative failures. The same names overseeing backlogged courts are now leading discussions on efficiency, raising questions about who is truly being reformed.
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