Nigeria Becomes 93rd Member as NAJN Joins Global Judicial Body, CJN Commends International Recognition
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has commended the National Association of Judges of Nigeria (NAJN) on its recent admission as a member of the International Association of Judges (IAJ).
The NAJN secured its membership during the 67th Annual Meeting of the IAJ, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
With this development, Nigeria has formally become the 93rd member of the global judicial body.
According to a statement issued by the CJN’s media aide, Mr. Tobi Soniyi, the admission of NAJN into the IAJ signifies international recognition and confidence in the Nigerian judiciary.
The IAJ, before granting admission, reviewed the peculiar challenges confronting the Nigerian judiciary but equally acknowledged the ongoing reforms being implemented under the leadership of Justice Kekere-Ekun.
Reacting to the development, Justice Kekere-Ekun described Nigeria’s admission as both a privilege and a source of pride, noting that it places the nation within a global community of judges committed to the rule of law, judicial independence, and the protection of human rights.
She emphasized that Nigeria embraces this membership with humility, commitment, and a profound sense of responsibility.
The CJN further pledged that Nigeria would contribute actively to the mission of the IAJ, while also reaffirming the judiciary’s dedication to strengthening its independence, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding human rights.
The International Association of Judges was established in Salzburg, Austria, in 1953 as a professional, non-political, international organisation. It brings together national associations of judges, rather than individual judges, subject to approval by its Central Council.
The core mandate of the IAJ is to safeguard judicial independence, which it regards as indispensable to the proper discharge of judicial functions, and to guarantee the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
At present, the association comprises 92 national associations or representative groups drawn from five continents, with Nigeria now joining as the 93rd member.
The IAJ’s Central Council serves as its executive body, with each member association represented by two delegates. The Council meets annually in different host countries. At its 2023 meeting in Taipei, Judge Duro Sessa of Croatia was elected President for a two-year term, while Judge Giacomo Oberto of the Civil Court in Turin was reappointed as Secretary-General for a sixth term. The IAJ also enjoys consultative status with the United Nations, including the International Labour Office, the UN Economic and Social Council, and the Council of Europe.
