The National Judicial Council (NJC), has stated why it haulted the nomination of persons shortlisted for vaccant positions into the Kogi State judiciary as judges and Kadis.
According to reports, 80 of the candidates nominated by Governor Yahaya Bello, to fill 10 vacant positions, were from his clan, the Ebiras, and included his wife, Amina Bello and some of his family and friends.
However, 17 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from the state, in a letter dated October 20, 2023, addressed to the Chief Judge and Chairman of Kogi State Judicial Service Commission, Justice Josiah Majebi, complained against the nomination.
The SANs, in a 12-point letter titled “RE: Provisional Short-list Of Candidates Of Ten Judicial Officers Of The High Court Of Justice Shariah Court Of Appeal And Customary Court Of Appeal,” and signed by Yunus Ustaz Usman, on behalf of 16 others, pointed out that the nominees did not reflect the geographical spread.
According to them, candidates listed for customary Court of Appeal, were all from Kogi Central and there was no candidate from Kogi East or Kogi West, noting that there were qualified persons from Kogi East and Kogi West that were not selected.
They added that appointment of Judges to superior courts of record, was regulated and required provision of basic facilities such as availability of courtrooms/Judges chambers, official cars, residential accommodation, as well as equipped library in Judges’ chambers, citing Rules 1-5 of National Judicial Council Revised Guidelines.
Responding to the petition, the NJC Secretary, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Esq, acknowledged the petition and had stopped the appointment process pending the determination of a lawsuit on the matter.
“I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 10 January, 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the National Judicial Council being the apex body in the Judiciary understands that respecting the authority of the court is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental aspect of maintaining a fair and just legal system. As such, the NJC has always been in the forefront of advocating for respect to the rule of law.
“Thus, I wish to inform you that once a suit is instituted against any appointment process, Council do put on hold the process, pending the determination of the matter. Consequently, the NJC has put on hold the process of appointment of Judges and Kadis for the Kogi State Judiciary,” the NJC replied.
Below is the list of nominated persons:
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
1) Badiru Abdulghaniy, Esq.
2) Ezema Beatrice Ada, Esq.
3) Ibrahim Idenyi
4) Amina Yahaya Bello, Esq.
5) Joseph Sunday Ajesola Esq.
6) Dr Mohammed Tanko Esq.
7) Badama Kadiri, Esq.
8) Umaru Medina, Esq.
9) Ibrahim Jubril, Oladimeji, Esq.
10) Ojoma Rachael Haruna, Esq.
11) Zakari Wahab
12) Halimat Onuka
SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL
1) Idris Alhaji Abdullahi, Esq.
2) Abdulwasiu Oladele Salaudeen
3) Muhammad Muhammad Bello, Esq.
4) Mohammed Usman, Agaba, Esq.
5) Okino Isah Saidu, Esq.
6) Abdulaziz Muhammad Abdulmali
7) Ganiyu Adeku, Esq.
8) Yakubu Adavenge Abbas
9) Hassan Hussaini
10) Musa Muhammad Jibreel
11) Hussaini Zakariya Labaran, Esq.
12) Salihu Abdullahi
13) Idrees Usman Abdullahi
14) Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu
CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL
1) Musa Onogo Idris, Esq.
2) Maryann Oziohu, Esq.
3) Shaibu Ozovehe Ebenezer, Esq.
