The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho Monday, cautioned lawyers in the country and the general public against incessant attack of judges, saying the field of law and indeed adjudication, is not a pedestrian affair.
The attitude according to the CJ posed great danger, not only to the Nigerian Judiciary, but the rule of law generally.
He noted further that after judges of the trial court delivers a judgment, dissatisfied parties he insisted are to approach the higher courts and appeal rather than launch attacks at the judges who constitutionally vested with the powers to deliver judgments.
Tsoho, who stated this while giving an address at the special Court session held to mark the ceremonial commencement of the Federal High Court 2024/2025 legal year in Abuja specifically fingered legal Practitioners, litigants, and the public alike for criticising Judges decisions.
The Federal High Court Judges he noted have suffered an enormous amount of criticism over time because of its wide and vast subject matter jurisdictions.
He said: “The attacks on judges is a tactic employed by failed lawyers as a ready means to seek fame in the media.
”I am compelled to seriously deprecate the current pervading attitude of some lawyers, litigants and public commentators, of launching virulent attacks in the media, against Judges and their decisions. The Federal High Court, regrettably, has been worse for it, arising from its wide territorial and vast subject matter jurisdiction.
“This trend seems to have become a ready means of seeking fame, employed mostly by failed lawyers and litigants. They do not realise that the field of law and indeed adjudication is not a pedestrian affair.
“I wish to use this rare opportunity of voicing out, which comes just once in a year, to comment at length on this canker, as it poses great danger, not only to the Nigerian Judiciary, but the Rmrule of law generally”.
He noted that after judges of the trial court deliver a judgment, dissatisfied parties are to approach the higher courts and appeal rather than launching attacks at the judges who Constitutionally vested with the powers to deliver judgments
He added: “Firstly, we need to remind ourselves that Courts of Law are established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Supreme Law of the Land and are vested with judicial powers by section 6 thereof. Similarly, Judges, particularly of the Superior Courts of record, are appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution and are obligated to discharge their duties in accordance with the constitution and enabling statutes.
