The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kidirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to address its backlog of pending cases and improve operational efficiency.

Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasised that both the CCT and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) should adopt proactive measures, including issuing timely reminders to public institutions and agencies to file their declarations before deadlines, to strengthen compliance.

The remarks were made during a meeting at her office with members of the Tribunal, led by Chairman Mainasara Umar.

The CCT is responsible for trying public officers who violate their code of conduct, particularly regarding false or anticipatory asset declarations.

Addressing the tribunal members, Justice Kekere-Ekun stressed the importance of safeguarding the tribunal’s independence.

She urged members to operate strictly within the jurisdiction granted by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and to administer justice without fear, favor, affection, or ill-will.

“Remember always that the credibility of the Tribunal, and indeed the entire judicial system, rests on the integrity and impartiality of its adjudicators. Let your actions inspire confidence in the institution you now lead,” she said.

According to a statement by the CJN’s media aide, Tobi Soniyi, the tribunal delegation sought support to make the institution more efficient and better equipped to fulfill its mandate.

Chairman Umar highlighted the poor state of the tribunal’s facilities and noted that steps had been taken to address the challenges.

He appealed for the judiciary’s support to ensure the tribunal receives the necessary resources to function optimally.

On capacity building, Justice Kekere-Ekun reminded the tribunal of the National Judicial Institute’s resources, which can provide targeted training through seminars and workshops for both tribunal members and supporting staff.

She encouraged the tribunal to adopt innovative approaches to resolving challenges while maintaining the highest standards of judicial integrity.