Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun Issues Stern Warning to Court Registrars Against Favoritism in Abuja Workshop

Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun warns Nigeria’s court registrars that favoritism and administrative failures undermine public trust in the judicial system.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 11:01 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Guardian Nigeria

Judicial Integrity Beyond the Bench

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has highlighted a critical vulnerability in the nation's legal system, asserting that public trust is frequently undermined not by judges, but by the administrative staff managing the courts. During a keynote address in Abuja, she warned that selective treatment and favoritism at the registry level are unacceptable practices that delegitimize the judiciary. According to the Chief Justice, the administrative machinery must operate with the same ethical rigor expected of the Bench to ensure that justice remains accessible and impartial for all citizens.

Administrative Lapses Shaping Public Perception

Represented by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice pointed out that judicial administrators serve as the primary public face of the courts. She noted that when registrars fail to discharge their duties with transparency or professionalism, the public often unfairly perceives the judges themselves as biased or inefficient. The Chief Justice stressed that the legitimacy of a court’s ruling can be compromised before a case even reaches the courtroom if the preliminary administrative processes are handled with a lack of integrity.

The Registry as a Neutral Operational Foundation

At the opening of the National Workshop on Ethics for Judicial Administrators, the Chief Justice described the registry as the operational foundation of the courts. She delivered a strong warning that these offices must never become channels for procedural manipulation or informal influence. Judicial staff were urged to remain insulated from external pressures and personal interests, maintaining strict neutrality in every interaction with court users. This neutrality is essential for sustaining the institutional backbone required for a functioning rule of law.