JUDICIAL ETHICS AND SOCIAL IMPACT ON JUDGES: THE 'BUGA' CONTROVERSY(CSWS 7th ED)September 28, 2023.

Judges from Nigeria, Liberia, the United States of America, and a Nigerian Senior lawyer/ law professor connect to discuss how society impacts (should impact) judges' judicial roles and responsibilities. Through their experiences with the courts and society, they narrate judicial ethical dilemmas, and opined on the controversies that arose regarding the Nigerian Osun Governorship election tribunal case, where the tribunal judge used the words " Go lo lo lo..." and " Buga won," from a popular Nigerian song… “Accordingly, this CSWS 7th edition is dedicated to honoring all judges, while discussing the clash between judicial ethics and judges’ freedom of expression and personal independence. Judges are part of the same society, and they experience what every normal person experiences. They visit the same malls/markets, and the same public places, and attend the same places of worship and relaxation as everyone else. Judges are as human as the people who appear in their courtrooms, but it appears that ethical requirements restrict them from enjoying and expressing their freedom as everyone else. Through reinforcing the fundamentals of socio-judicial empathy, this webinar admonishes the need for the public, especially litigants and lawyers to apply socio-judicial empathy when assessing judges. Life can be short, and every judge as a human being needs to make the best of their humanity and may ‘buga’ when and if necessary, without intimidation from the bar, the media, or the public of unethical conduct.” Niki-Tobi, A. (2022) Courts & Society Webinar Series 7th Edition...