CJN urges judges to maintain integrity with new court building

Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has urged judges of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to uphold integrity to reflect the beauty of their new headquarters, which she opened on Wednesday.

“Let its imposing physical presence be matched by integrity, independence, competence, discipline, and fidelity to the law,” she said during the inauguration of the complex in Abuja.

She believes that the building will create a good working space for the court to perform its duties and help in the growth of labour and industrial law.

The inauguration took place as part of the opening ceremony for the NICN’s new 2026/2027 legal year.

Benedict Kanyip, the President of the NICN, spoke about the court’s commitment to improving its ability to serve everyone who seeks justice. He emphasized that the courtroom must be open to all.

Like the CJN, he mentioned that buildings “do not dispense justice and technology does not replace judicial wisdom” but help in making things more efficient.

Mr Kanyip stressed the importance of human involvement in doing good for the public. He said, “Infrastructure does not guarantee public governance.” He confirmed that integrity and fairness should guide the NICN.

“Fairness must remain at the heart of our decisions. Respect for the rule of law must be absolute.” He reminded everyone that the NICN's purpose is to provide a peaceful and lawful environment for industries and to protect rights and uphold obligations.

About the building

Wednesday’s inauguration marked the end of a construction project that started in 2010 by the former NICN president, Babatunde Adejumo.

The new building has four floors, seven courtrooms, and one ceremonial court. It also has 11 judges’ chambers, three of which are for visiting judges. The building includes the president's and heads’ chambers, a judges’ library, the chief registrar’s office, and a conference room.

The basement has a parking lot for 35 cars, along with stores and archives. The ground floor contains several offices.

Sunday Makinde, the quantity surveyor who led the construction, said the new NICN headquarters has four floors and a basement.

George Alonge, the Chairman of Sunsplash Business Systems Limited, and Sunday Makinde were present at the inauguration.

‘Beautiful building can’t deliver justice’

At the inauguration, the CJN said the building “represents many years of vision, planning, commitment, and perseverance…a practical response to the realities of the court’s present and future workload.”

She praised both the former and current presidents of the NICN for their foresight. The former president, Mr Adejumo, was also there.

She said the building is a reminder that “institutional development is a continuum.”

“One administration may conceive an idea, another may advance it, and yet another may bring it to completion,” the CJN said.

She added that the facility comes with responsibilities. “A beautiful building cannot by itself deliver justice. The true measure of this edifice will ultimately be found in what takes place within its walls,” she said.

She called for proper maintenance and preservation to keep the building effective for future generations.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, was represented by Tijani Gazali, the Acting Director of Civil Appeals of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Other notable attendees included Husseini Yusuf, Chief Judge of the Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Stanley Lawal, President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the FCT, Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, and former CJN Mahmoud Mohammed, Walter Onnoghen.

New legal year speech

In his speech for the new legal year, Mr Kanyip noted that the NICN would use technology where needed and ensure public trust is justified through its commitment to the rule of law.

Reflecting on the past 2025/2026 legal year, Mr Kanyip revealed that 2,236 cases were resolved.

He mentioned that the NICN aims for full digitalization of court processes, expanding its facilities, and improving staff welfare. He called for a better budget to achieve this.

He also shared that the National Judicial Council has recommended an NICN judge, Sanusi Kado, for the Court of Appeal.

The AGF’s representative, Mr Gazali, praised the NICN for its structure and urged them to build on this foundation to strengthen the court system and improve access to justice.

Judicial responsibilities

The CJN said the new legal year ceremony is a chance to reflect on the responsibilities of being a judge.

“Judicial office is a great privilege, but it is also a profound responsibility. Every judge must remember that the authority of the court comes from the Constitution and the law, and that the trust the public places in the judiciary must be renewed every year.”

She acknowledged that the number of cases can be overwhelming but reminded judges that pressure “must never become an excuse for impatience, discourtesy, or inadequate attention to the matters placed before the court.”

The CJN urged judges to remember that each case affects people, businesses, and livelihoods.

She also recognized that the workplace is changing with new types of jobs, digital platforms, and remote agreements.

She noted that while artificial intelligence can help in research, judges must always verify facts, as AI can make mistakes.