Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned the newly appointed head of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Mainasara Umar, not to allow political or personal interests to undermine his role.
At his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief Justice said the tribunal chairmanship demanded “sound judgement, unshakable independence and moral courage”. She stressed that cases before the tribunal often carry “high stakes and sensitive issues touching the soul of public trust” and must be handled with strict adherence to law and the constitution.
Kekere-Ekun urged Umar to resist external influence, insisting his ultimate loyalty must be to Nigeria, not individuals or groups. “The trust placed in you is on behalf of the nation and must never be compromised,” she said.
In his remarks, Umar pledged to administer justice fairly and transparently while safeguarding institutional credibility. His appointment restores the tribunal to full strength with three judges, allowing it to resume deliberations on cases that had stalled in the absence of a chair.
