By Peter Omopo
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has said the swearing-in of Justice Kayode Oyewole as a Justice of the Supreme Court has restored the apex court to its full constitutional complement.
Justice Oyewole was sworn in on Wednesday at a ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Kekere-Ekun described the elevation as a significant milestone, noting that a full bench would enhance the court’s capacity to constitute robust panels and manage its caseload more efficiently. She said numerical completeness was structurally important for a court whose decisions shape the nation’s legal direction, adding that it would enrich intellectual diversity and reinforce the stability of the country’s jurisprudence.
The CJN reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s commitment to strengthening public confidence in the administration of justice. She stated that although the court’s traditions are rich and its responsibilities weighty, its enduring strength rests on disciplined scholarship, ethical fidelity and collective wisdom.
Charging the new justice, Kekere-Ekun urged him to contribute meaningfully to the coherence of the court’s jurisprudence and the clarity of constitutional interpretation. She said his elevation reflected the confidence reposed in him by the relevant institutions and by Nigerians.
According to her, the judicial oath represents a binding covenant in conscience and in law, demanding moral courage when decisions are unpopular, restraint when emotions run high, and steadfastness in the face of pressures that may threaten judicial independence.
She reminded Justice Oyewole that, at the level of the Supreme Court, scrutiny is intense and public commentary often immediate, stressing that his guiding principle must remain the Constitution and the law.
The CJN also emphasised that cases must be decided without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. She encouraged principled disagreement where necessary, noting that a well-reasoned dissent expressed with intellectual honesty can contribute to the future development of legal doctrine rather than weaken unity on the bench.
Kekere-Ekun added that the judgments of the Supreme Court extend beyond the immediate parties and resonate with future generations. She said the authority of the court rests on the moral weight of its reasoning, the discipline of its processes and the integrity of its justices.
She stressed that the role of a Supreme Court justice goes beyond resolving disputes, requiring careful guardianship of precedent, principled development of the law and unwavering allegiance to constitutional supremacy.
