Justice Satellite’s Battle Cry: The Fight to Halt Nasarawa Judge Appointments – A Fervent Plea to the CJN
Concerned Nigerians Under the aegis of Justice Satellite of Nigeria have asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria & Chairman National Judicial Council, Hon. Olukayode Ariwoola to reject the shortlisted candidates for Appointment as Judges by the Nasarawa Judicial Service Commission.
The group made this call in a letter signed by the Chairman, Mr. Annas Ibrahim Alemani and made available to BarristerNG on Saturday.
Among other flaws noted in the shortlisted list, the group accused the commission of favouritism and nepotism.
The letter titled SHORTLIST OF EIGHT (8) CANDIDATES FOR APPOINTMENT AS JUDGES OF HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE, NASARAWA STATE AND TWO (2) CANDIDATES FOR APPOINTMENT AS KADI OF THE NASARAWA STATE SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL; NONE COMPLIANCE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS AND LAID DOWN GUIDELINES BY NASARAWA STATE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION, EXHIBITION OF FAVOURITISM AND NEPOTISM BY NASARAWA STATE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMISSION, A CALL TO REJECT THE SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES, reads
For ease of reference section (14(3) of the CFRN 1999 provides as follows:-
“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national Unity and also command National Loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no Predominance of Persons from a few state or from a few ethnic or other sectional group in that Government or in any of its agencies (Italics and emphasis ours).
Section 14 (4) of the CFRN 1999 provides as follows;
“The composition of the government of a state, a Local Government Council, or any of the agencies of such government or council, and the conduct of their affairs of the government or council of such agencies shall be carried out in such a manner as to recognize the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the Federation (Italics and emphasis ours).
Rule 3 (6) (iv) of the NJC Guideline and Procedural Rules 2014 provide as follows:
“In carrying out the provisional shortlisting exercise the chairman of the Judicial Service Commission/Committee shall take into consideration as much as possible (iv) Federal Character or Geographical Spread and where Necessary and possible, without compromising or allowing politics to permeates or influence the appointment. (Italics and emphasis ours).
Presently, Nasarawa state has 17 numbers of Superior court Judges 2 Federal High Court Judges, 1 National Industrial Court Judge, 1 High Court Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, 4 Customary Court of Appeal Judges, 3 Sharia Court of Appeal Kadis and 3 Court of Appeal Justices.
It is apposite to tabulate the present appointed Superior Court Judges in and from Nasarawa State Vide Exhibit “B” to “D” respectively reflecting the Judges Senatorial Districts, Local Government Areas to press or drive home our point. Viz;
EXHIBIT “B”
NASARAWA SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.
The Council may wish to know that Nasarawa South Senatorial District comprises of Lafia, Doma, Awe, Obi and Keana Local Government Areas respectively.
