FROM UTHMAN BABA-SIRAJDEEN
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwola has been called upon to, as a matter of urgency, look into the absurdity and impropriety in the appointment of Federal High Court Judges in 2021 by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The call was contained in a petition forwarded to the Chief Justice of Nigeria by an Abuja based legal practitioner Barrister Abdullahi Liman recently.
The National Judicial Council under the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Tanko presided over the panels that conducted the interview of the six applicants, which list of approved candidates was transmitted for approval upon qualifying.
The petition tagged ” A distress Call To the Honourable Chief Justice Of Nigeria To Tame Corruption in The Appointment of Judges”, decried the Unprecedented corruption that characterizes the appointment of some Federal High Court judges under the former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Mohammed Tanko.
According to the legal practitioner, he was deeply concerned and agitated by the sundry allegations of impropriety in the appointment of judges to the superior courts in Nigeria, stating that he was moved to forward the complaint in view of the ineptitude of the former CJN in appointing unqualified applicant dropping the qualified ones.
He said he was moved to write the letter in view of the fact that in recent time the Judiciary, which is the last resort for Justice to the common man, was being smeared by some political actors and their hirelings who are deeply aggrieved by the judgements of superior courts on electoral matters”
” My Lord it is in the light of above, that I decided to write this letter with the sole desire of inviting my Lord’s office to further closely monitor the recruitment process leading to the appointments of judges of superior courts because that is the first port of corruption in the Judiciary” he asserted.
He pointed out that to underscore his point, he drew the attention of the chief justice to the recruitment exercise for the appointment of six additional judges of the Federal High Court in 2021.
” My Lord, in 2021, an advertisement for the appointment of six additional judges for the Federal High Court was published inviting qualified persons to indicate their interest.
” My Lord Sir, one Ms Fati Suleiman Takuma from Niger State Judiciary, who among others, indicated interest by applying for appointment and, was shortlisted and invited for interview by the FJSC” he added.
He further disclosed that she passed the interview and her name made it into the approved list, stating that this fact was communicated to her by a member of the interview panel at the FJSC who congratulated her and a member of her family for passing the interview
The approved list according to him was accordingly Forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC).
However, he told the Chief Justice that as a result of corruption, an applicant from Niger State who failed the interview and whose name was not on the approved list, was eventually preferred and appointed as a judge of the Federal High Court to the rudest shock of all concerned
” As it is right now, that candidate who failed the interview, and therefore has no business being on the bench is sitting as a judge of the Federal High Court with the attendant foreseeable danger to the efficacy of the administration of justice in Nigeria”
“In 2021, when we were going about our lawful duty, carrying out investigations concerning the appointments, we were harassed, intimidated and threatened for daring to uncover this corruption.”
Meanwhile, a senior officer of the NJC, who pleaded anonymity confirmed that it was indeed the true position, but we were coming late in time
To further cover up this act, some officials sought and got a waiver from Mr President in order for the appointed judges not to pass through the traditional security checks of all security agencies.
The legal practitioner then told the chief justice that it was most painful that Ms Fati Suleiman Takuma who impeccably posses judicial temperament, integrity, discipline, sound knowledge of the law , and courage as a judge will never have, courtesy of ongoing corruption in the process of the appointments of judge in Nigeria.
The development of Mariga Local Government Area remains my priority.
Executive Chairman, Mariga Local Government Area