After the term of the immediate previous Administrator, Justice Salisu G. Abdullahi (rtd), ended on July 31, 2025, Justice Babatunde Adejumo (rtd) took over as the ninth administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.
Recall that at its meeting on July 3, 2025, the National Judicial Institute’s Board of Governors, chaired by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, authorized the appointment of Justice Adejumo as the Institute’s Administrator, effective August 1, 2025.
The Institute’s administration and a few key officers greeted the new Administrator with open arms, according to a statement released Friday by Kolade Umoru, Head of Information and Public Relations at NJI.
On behalf of the management and principal officers, the Director of Administration, Mr. Osmond Otobo, praised the new Administrator as a judicial officer who demonstrated exceptional leadership skills while serving as the President of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, at the Institute’s welcome reception on Friday.
“A seasoned judicial administrator who made giant strides and transformation at the NICN, which include various law reforms, physical infrastructures, and other remarkable achievements during his tenure as President of the Court,” according to Otobo, was Justice Adejumo.
Additionally, he expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s Chief Justice for selecting Justice Adejumo, whom he called “a great judicial technocrat.” The Institute is appreciative, as is the Nigerian judiciary.
Mr. Otobo wished the new administrator a prosperous term in office and reassured him of the loyalty of the management and staff, as well as their dedication to diligence and productivity.
The Institute is “one big family where there is culture for good working relationship amongst staff and the Administrator,” he told Justice Adejumo.
In response, Justice Adejumo, the Administrator, thanked the management for organizing a reception for him. He emphasized that he has been familiar with the Institute since 1993 and has worked directly or indirectly with it through previous Chief Justices of Nigeria.
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He advised the personnel to embrace discipline and hard work, promising to repeat his performance in the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).
Furthermore, because he is a detribalized Nigerian, Justice Adejumo pledged to consider all cases on their merits. However, he did concede that NJI is a significant institution within the Nigerian judiciary, “thus it is the mirror to the public perception.”
He urged NJI employees to be open and honest in their interactions, promising to update the training materials and curriculum to align with international best practices once he settles in.
Along with overhauling the Institute’s information technology and library hubs to increase accessibility and patronage worldwide, Justice Adejumo also pledged to boost staff welfare packages and expedite staff training and retraining across all cadres and ranks.
With his extensive background and profound knowledge of judicial administration and continuing education, Justice Adejumo is a highly esteemed jurist, seasoned administrator, and educator who served with distinction as President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) prior to joining NJI.
According to the release, “these attributes are anticipated to greatly strengthen the Institute’s endeavor in advancing judicial capacity, development, and institutional innovation in knowledge, performance, and ethical standards in Nigerian Judiciary.”
