Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Murhktar, yesterday said that judges must expect temptations of various forms, including bribery, from those standing trial before them.
She, however, urged them to, at all times, resist temptations.
Murhktar, who spoke in Abuja at the swearingin of 12 new judges for the National Industrial Court, NIC, also directed judges not to shy away from reprimanding or jailing any lawyer or litigant who recklessly flouts court orders.
The CJN, who said she expected a high moral standard from the new judges, however, slammed lawyers including members of the Inner Bar who engaged in media trial of the judiciary when they lost cases.
Muhktar said the conduct was not only unprofessional but also unacceptable.
President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the appointment of 12 judges for NIC.
The approval followed the recommendation of National Judicial Council, NJC, headed by Mukhtar.
NJC is a creation of Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution with statutory powers to hire and fire judicial officers serving in superior courts of records.
The newly inaugurated judges are Rakiya B. Haastrup, Waziri Abali, Rabi H. Gwandu, Lawal Mani, Olufunke Yemi Anuwe and John Dele Peters.
Others are Oyejoju O. Oyewumi, Edith N. N. Agbakoba, Amadi Kenneth Ikechukwu, Anthonia Ndidi Ubaka, Peter Odo Lifu and Ebeye David E. Isele.
The swearing-in ceremony was held inside the biggest courtroom of the Supreme Court.
During the special session, Muhktar said henceforth, judges must take firm position against contempt of the court, both in facie curiae and ex-facie curiae because "it is an affront on the collective integrity of the Bench as well as the integrity of the particular judge involved".
National Mirror