By Martins Odeh
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Friday urged 19 newly appointed judges of the National Industrial Court to operate within the ambit of the laws.
Onnoghen gave the advise after administering the oath of office and oath of allegiance on the new judges in Abuja.
“When you need to take hard decisions, take it; heavens will not fall. Heaven has never fallen because of anybody’s judgment.
“We can only checkmate impunity through adherence to the law.
“You must be guided by the oaths of allegiance to the Nigerian Constitution and the office.
“I want to advise judicial officers, particularly those of you that have just been sworn in, to always be guided by the Constitution, the laws and your conscience.
“I assure you that as judicial officers, if you remain true to the oaths of your office, you have no problem.
“Anything you need to function in that office is contained in the oath of office,” he said.
The sworn in judges included Targema John Iorngee (Benue); Namtari Mahmood Abba (Adamawa); Nweneka Ikechi (Rivers); Kado Sanusi (Katsina) and Adeniyi Oluyinka (Ogun).
Others are Abiola Adewemimo (Osun); Opeloye Ogunbowale A. (Lagos) Essien Jeremiah (Akwa-Ibom) Elizabeth Oji (Ebonyi) Arowosegbe Ojo (Ondo); Ogbuanya Chukwudi (Enugu) and Bashir Zaynab Mohammed (Niger).
The rest are Galadima Suleiman (Nasarawa); Bassi Ahmed (Borno); Danjidda Hamisu (Kano) Hamman Polycarp (Taraba) Damulak Dashe (Plateau); Alkali Attahiru (Sokoto) and Mustapha Tijjani (Jigawa).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the number of the judges of the NIC has now risen from 20 to 39.
