Judul : Conflicting Judgments Are Normal, Not Judicial Failure — NJI Administrator
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Conflicting Judgments Are Normal, Not Judicial Failure — NJI Administrator
The head of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, has explained that differing court decisions in Nigeria should not be considered a weakness of the judiciary but rather a natural part of the legal system that helps in the development and refinement of the law.
During an interactive discussion before the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference in Abuja, the former head of the National Industrial Court stated that discrepancies in court rulings result from judges' different interpretations of facts and evidence, shaped by their legal knowledge and the specific circumstances of each case.
"Judges make decisions based on the facts and evidence provided to them. Even in the United States, which possesses one of the oldest and most advanced judicial systems, state courts frequently offer varying opinions on comparable matters," Adejumo stated.
He observed that these differences are normal and eventually settled by the court hierarchy — starting with the High Courts, followed by the Court of Appeal, and finally the Supreme Court.
"If two or three courts reach different rulings on the same issue, appellate courts are in place to settle these discrepancies. Whatever the Supreme Court decides is ultimately final and enforceable," he said.
The administrator of the NJI, nevertheless, warned that although lower courts are not required to follow rulings from courts of equal standing, it would constitute "judicial misconduct" for a lower court to oppose the decision of a higher court.
"Once the Supreme Court has made its decision, no branch of the Court of Appeal or lower courts should issue a conflicting ruling, unless it is to resolve unclear interpretations," he added.
Justice Adejumo also recommended changes in procedures to minimize contradictory decisions, suggesting that parties involved in cases should be obligated to submit an affidavit stating that the same issue has not been presented to another court — a violation of this, he mentioned, would constitute lying under oath.
Considering his 30-year tenure on the Bench, the former NIC President remembered how the court transformed into a leading court of record.
"When I took office in 2003, the National Industrial Court had just two branches — one in Lagos and another in Abuja — with a total of 123 employees. By continuous efforts, we obtained the passing of the National Industrial Court Act in 2006, and subsequently promoted a constitutional change that improved the court's position," he said.
He mentioned that the amendment, resulting from cooperation with the National Assembly and approved by 33 state assemblies, placed the National Industrial Court as the fourth-top court in Nigeria's judicial system and provided its president with full membership in the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
Justice Adejumo reiterated his dedication to enhancing judicial training via the NJI, calling it "the pulse of the Nigerian Judiciary" — a forum for interaction among judges, legal practitioners, journalists, and the public to enhance judicial effectiveness.
He also aimed to clarify misunderstandings regarding the legal system, emphasizing that judges do not conduct "exploratory journeys" to obtain convictions.
"A judge does not create evidence. In criminal cases, guilt has to be established beyond any reasonable doubt. Any uncertainty should be resolved in favor of the defendant," he explained.
He also stressed that decisions are based solely on facts, evidence, testimony, legal principles, and previous rulings.
He concluded, 'It is preferable for a hundred guilty individuals to remain free rather than for one innocent person to be unjustly convicted.'
Justice Adejumo showed hope that the upcoming 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference would improve judicial knowledge, raise professional standards, and boost public trust in the legal system.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).Thus the article Conflicting Judgments Are Normal, Not Judicial Failure — NJI Administrator
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