CJN Kekere-Ekun: Senior judges must mentor juniors, not intimidate them

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged senior judicial officers across the country to mentor their younger colleagues to promote knowledge transfer, professional development and effective administration of justice.

Kekere-Ekun made the call while speaking at the annual conference of the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association in Kingston, Jamaica, where she participated in a panel session on “Judicial Bullying and Harassment.”

According to a statement by her spokesman, Tobi Soniyi, the CJN stressed that senior judges had an important responsibility to mentor, supervise and correct junior judicial officers without subjecting them to intimidation or harassment.

She noted that experienced judges possessed valuable institutional knowledge and practical insights that could not be acquired from books alone.

“They have a responsibility to guide younger colleagues, share experience and help them understand the demands of the Bench,” she said.

“They have a responsibility to guide younger colleagues, share experience and help them understand the demands of the Bench,” she said.

The CJN maintained that effective mentorship should strengthen the confidence of junior judges rather than undermine it.

According to her, younger judicial officers should be able to ask questions without embarrassment, acknowledge uncertainty without fear of humiliation and express concerns without worrying that their candour would be used against them.

Judicial mentorship is an important component of professional development within the justice system.

Through guidance, supervision and the sharing of experience, senior judicial officers can help younger judges develop sound legal reasoning, courtroom management skills and a deeper understanding of the responsibilities associated with judicial office.

However, mentorship must be distinguished from intimidation or the abuse of seniority.

Judicial independence requires judges to make decisions according to the law and evidence, free from improper pressure, including pressure from colleagues within the institution.

The challenge, therefore, is to cultivate a judicial culture that respects experience and institutional hierarchy while protecting constructive disagreement, professional accountability and the independence of every judicial officer.

Kekere-Ekun’s remarks highlight the need for a judiciary in which seniority serves as a platform for guidance and knowledge transfer rather than a tool for coercion.