The Chief Justice of Nigeria ( CJN) , Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, on Wednesday charged newly appointed judges of the Federal High Court to see their elevation to the Bench as a sacred constitutional trust rather than a mere rise in status, warning that their decisions would shape the nation’s economic stability, governance, and public confidence in justice.

Justice Kekere-Ekun gave the charge while administering the Oath of Allegiance and Judicial Oath to the judges at a swearing-in ceremony held at the Supreme Court of Nigeria Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

“You have assumed not merely an office, but a solemn constitutional responsibility,” the CJN declared. “From this moment, you cease to belong wholly to yourselves; you belong to the law, to your conscience, and to the Nigerian people.”

She reminded the judges that the Federal High Court occupies a pivotal position in Nigeria’s judicial framework, with jurisdiction over revenue, banking, maritime affairs, intellectual property, and other complex commercial and regulatory disputes whose outcomes often reverberate beyond the courtroom into markets, institutions, and national governance.

Justice Kekere-Ekun disclosed that the judges emerged through one of the most rigorous, transparent, and technology-driven appointment processes in Nigeria’s judicial history.

According to her, the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission strengthened evaluation mechanisms to prioritise merit, integrity, competence, and temperament, while also incorporating structured public participation.

“For the first time in a more deliberate and structured manner, the names of shortlisted candidates were published and the public invited to submit written comments on their integrity and suitability,” she said, stressing that the reform was aimed at reinforcing public confidence in the judiciary.

The CJN, however, expressed concern over what she described as a growing trend of sweeping and indiscriminate attacks against the judiciary, cautioning that blanket allegations of corruption, without evidence or recourse to established complaint channels, undermine public trust and unfairly tarnish the reputations of diligent judicial officers.

“While the judiciary does not claim infallibility and will discipline misconduct where established, independence must be protected from careless assault,” she said. “When confidence in the courts collapses, the rule of law itself is imperilled.”

She urged the newly sworn-in judges to remain disciplined, punctual, and impartial, warning that justice delayed through indolence or poor case management amounts to justice denied.

The CJN also advised them to resist subtle pressures from social, political, financial, or relational, and to guard both their independence and public perception.

“The oath you have taken today is not ceremonial language; it is a covenant with God and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she said, calling on the judges to embrace continuing judicial education, modern case management techniques, and ongoing digitisation efforts within the court system.

Congratulating the judges on their appointment, Justice Kekere-Ekun urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through daily discipline and unwavering integrity, expressing hope that their tenure would strengthen the Federal High Court and deepen public trust in the administration of justice in Nigeria.

The 14 judges sworn in on Wednesday are part of 36 judicial officers recommended by the council for various courts, including the Supreme Court, State High Courts, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal across the country.

The judges were appointed following recommendations by the National Judicial Council (NJC), which at its 110th meeting held on 13 and 14 January approved 14 candidates for the Federal High Court bench.

The NJC said it forwarded the names to President Bola Tinubu after receiving security clearance reports with no adverse findings.

Those sworn in include Sulaiman Amida Hassan, Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court from Kwara State; Muhammad Bara’u Saidu, Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission in Sokoto State; Igboko Chinelo Conchita Onuegbu, Director of Legal Services and Legal Adviser at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, representing Abia State; and Onuegbu Chioma Angela, Director of Legal Services at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja from Imo State.

They also include Galumje Edingah, Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of the Federal High Court, Taraba State; Ibrahim Vera Eneabo, Deputy Chief Registrar at the High Court, FCT, Abuja, from Nasarawa State and Abubakar Musa Usman, Professor of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law at Baze University, Abuja, representing Zamfara State.

Also sworn in as judges are Salihu Aisha Yunusa, Assistant Chief Registrar at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja, representing FCT; Ikpeme Joy Bassey, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Justice in Cross River State; Shehu Umar Adamu, Station Registrar at the Federal High Court, Bauchi Division, representing Kaduna State; and Ibrahim Mohammed Buba, Senior Legal Officer and Superintendent at the EFCC in Abuja, from Nasarawa State.

The rest are Eigege-Binjin Nendelmun Judith, Principal Research Fellow at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, representing Plateau State; Usoro Kuyik Uduak, Legal Assistant to a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, representing Akwa Ibom State; and Nwoye Donatus Osinachi, a private legal practitioner in Enugu State.