Eight new Justices of the Supreme Court on Friday were sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, after their inauguration in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The new justices are Mohammed Garba Lawal, Heleen Morenikeji Ogunwumiju, Abdul Aboki, Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Samuel Oseji, Tijani Abubakar and Emmanuel Akomaye Agim.
At the inauguration, the CJN advised the new Supreme Court Justices render their services as representatives God on earth and to be prepared to give account of their steward to God in the end.
The CJN also warned the new justices not to allow their personal ambition or any extraneous considerations to becloud their sense of judgment in the discharge of their judicial functions.
He said their interactions with people of unenviable inclinations and pedigree must be halted forthwith if there is any.
Asking them to let their conscience guide and filter every thought that traverses their minds, he said: “I have no 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 cases.
“I want to assure you that more of that will come your ways at the final court in the land where appellants’ expectations are often high and infectious.
“There is no way you can please human beings especially litigants, and I am making it clear that the easiest way to fail in life is to try to please everybody.
“The only deity you can fear is the Almighty God. Once your judgment is in consonance with what God expects from you and is also in accordance with the constitution, you should consider yourself the happiest and freest person on earth.”
The CJN, who said the new Justices’ elevation to Supreme Court is a recognition of their astuteness and evident passion for hard work, advised them to bring their experiences and dexterity to bear at the apex court.
