The number one judicial officer, who described as unacceptable delay in dispensation of justice in the country also warned the judicial officers against involving themselves in corrupt acts capable of tarnishing the image of the judiciary.

According to him, corruption is not only a veritable ground for dismissing them from service but that it has the capacity to destroy the entire judiciary. Kutigi spoke in Abuja, yesterday, at the opening of a five-day National Workshop for Magistrates organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

But the CJN yesterday noted that there is a gradual reduction in the cases of corruption in the judiciary, saying that his position and that of the leadership of the judiciary in the country is zero tolerance to corruption.

In the same vein, the NJI Administrator, Justice Umaru Eri, who said there is a new dawn in the institute, noted that justice should be viewed in terms of service delivery, saying that the quest for integrity and competence are of paramount importance.

He maintained that not only are judicial officers and magistrates expected to promote integrity and competence in the discharge of their duties, continuing judicial education is also necessary.

Eri noted that the workshop would afford the opportunity to refresh knowledge and share professional and work related experiences and ideas for mutual benefits.

Speaking further, Kutigi told the magistrates, “I must not hesitate to remind you of my position and the position of the leadership of the judiciary of this great country on the issue of corruption which is a zero tolerance one.

“Of truth, there is a gradual reduction of incidents of this menace in the judiciary in recent time. I however urge you to abstain totally from it. For corruption has a destructive tendency. It has the tendency to pull you down from high position.

“I appeal to you to avoid corruption the same way and manner you would avoid plagues”, Kutigi therefore advised the Magistrates not to allow themselves to be used by any unscrupulous individuals, be they politicians, legal practitioners or businessmen and women.

The CJN also noted that the inordinate delay in the dispensation of justice may erode public confidence in the judiciary, saying that in other for magistrates and other judicial officers to enjoy public confidence, such delay should be avoided, saying that justice delayed is justice denied.

In his keynote address, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi noted that those given the responsibility to sit in judgment over others must be seen as people that can be trusted to be fair, just and upright in the discharge of their judicial functions.

Gummi noted that justice is rooted in public confidence, adding that magistracy is usually the spectacles through which the judiciary is viewed.

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