Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has urged judges and heads of courts to guard against attempts to manipulate judicial procedures as political disputes intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at a National Judicial Institute roundtable, she warned against forum shopping, concealment of related cases and applications designed to obtain conflicting orders from courts of equal jurisdiction. Such practices, she said, could undermine public confidence and expose the judiciary to unnecessary controversy.
The Chief Justice called for careful scrutiny of urgent applications and ex parte requests, full disclosure of relevant facts and timely handling of election-related cases. Political pressure, she emphasized, must not displace the Constitution, electoral law or established court procedures.
Retired Justice Babatunde Adejumo, administrator of the National Judicial Institute, said court leaders bear a special responsibility to uphold judicial integrity and maintain confidence in the rule of law.
The warning places particular emphasis on administrative readiness and consistent judicial decision-making before the next election cycle.
