In a momentous gathering at the Biennial Conference of the
National Association of Women Judges in
Nigeria, the Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, delivered an impassioned plea to judges throughout
the country. He called upon them to reject all forms of bias and strive to
administer justice in every case that came before them, emphasizing that this
was the sole means by which confidence in the judiciary could be restored.
Acknowledging the judiciary’s role as the final refuge for
the common man, the CJN expressed the vital importance of judges interpreting
the law impartially, free from any personal affections or ill-will. He
underlined the judiciary’s responsibility to uphold the rule of law through the
interpretation, construction, and application of relevant laws.
Addressing the women judges, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola urged
them to interpret the law without bias, recognizing their significant position
in the 21st century. He highlighted the judiciary as the last bastion of hope
for ordinary citizens and stressed that judicial officers must strive to
preserve the trust placed in them by society.
The CJN further outlined the purpose of the conference, which
aimed to bolster the capabilities of women judges in combating various
injustices prevalent in the nation. He acknowledged that certain societal vices
had a disproportionately adverse impact on women and girls, and the conference
provided a platform for discussing these pertinent issues. Notably, he mentioned
crimes such as sexual slavery, human trafficking, rape, and female genital
mutilation, expressing concern over their persistence despite ongoing efforts
to eradicate them.
In this context, the conference served as an opportunity to
deliberate on policy formation and recent legislation that could significantly
affect women in society. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola drew attention to the
pervasive problem of human trafficking, particularly its detrimental
consequences for women, and called for all stakeholders to join forces in
combating this hydra-headed monster. He expressed the desire shared by many
Nigerians to curb human trafficking and highlighted the need for unity in this
fight.
The CJN emphasized that the conference had been carefully
designed to inform participants about emerging developments in combating human
trafficking and other critical issues. He expressed his conviction that this
gathering would serve as a platform for enlightening the distinguished
delegates about global best practices in addressing challenges related to this
specific area of the law.
With his passionate plea, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola set the
tone for an intense and fruitful conference, highlighting the significance of
impartiality and justice in the judiciary and underscoring the urgency of
combating human trafficking and other injustices affecting women in Nigeria.
