Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has said the Judiciary remained resolute and committed to upholding its independence.

Mohammed said this on the occasion of the swearing-in of Amina Augie and Ejembi Eko as justices of the Supreme Court in Abuja, saying all courts in the country were empowered to adjudicate with utmost fairness and justice as prescribed in the Constitution and the law.

According to him, certainly, the decision of the National Judicial Council at its last meeting reflects their desire to preserve this independence, saying hence, they proclaimed to the World that any Judicial officer that is standing trial will cease to perform judicial functions.

He said the Council took this stand following communications it received from the Attorney General of the Federal that he was embarking on the prosecution of the affected judicial officers for the offences disclosed against them.

On his advice to the new justices, Mohammed urged them to continue to be diligent in the discharge of their duties, saying they must remain blind to personality and status, and remain the hope of all men, whether common or uncommon.

Eko before his appointment was a Justice of the Court of Appeal, he also served in the High Court of Justice, Benue State Judiciary, between 1989 and 2007.

Eko, the Benue born, obtained a Bachelor of Laws,LL.B., Law/Jurisprudence from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, between 1973 and 1976.

On her part, Augie until her elevation to the apex court was a justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.