Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mr Ibrahim Muhammad, on Monday administered oath on 11 newly appointed judges for High Court of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The swearing-in, which took place at the headquarters of Supreme Court, was done despite protest by a group in the South-east geopolitical zone, against the exclusion of the zone.

The group, Registered Trustees of Social Justice and Civil Rights Awareness Initiative, had dragged federal government before a Federal High Court in Abuja, over the appointment of judges for the High Court of FCT.

The group, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/ 830/2020, had prayed the court to compel President Muhammadu Buhari to include at least one person from South-east into the list of newly appointed judges of FCT High Court.

Besides the president, other defendants include National Judicial Council (NJC), Judicial Service Committee of Federal Capital Territory, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Senate and the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Alozie Nmerengwa, further sought the discontinuation of the process of appointing new judges to FCT High Court until the defendants comply strictly with the Federal Character principles as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

Meanwhile, CJN urged the new judges to be on top of their games, warning that the Judiciary, under his watch, would not condone any form of indolence among judges.

Muhammad noted that as ministers in the temple of justice, judges should always be guided by the laws of the land and remain faithful to their oath of office.

He urged them to see their appointments to the High Court bench as a call to service and never allow personal ambition, which might not be in tandem with what is required of them, to override their sense of judgment.

He however warned that Nigerian Judiciary is more than ever prepared to weed out the bad eggs in its midst.

Thisday