TheCable

The nomination of judges into the federal court of appeal is causing ripples in judicial circles, with the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) accused of conducting an opaque process, THISDAY reports.

Some judicial officials have asked Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad, the chairman of FJSC, Abubakar Malami, the minister of justice, and the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to stop the “injustice”, the newspaper reported.

The major allegation is that in the process of “horse trading”, more qualified people were dropped as favours for some interests in the country.

“After the FCT judiciary’s scandalous selection of judges last year of which Mr. President promptly addressed the injustice, the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has conducted another less than transparent appointment exercise for justices of the Court of Appeal,” one source was quoted as saying.

“The exercise was not in conformity with the commission’s guidelines for the appointment or removal from office of Judicial Officers, 2015, as it was subjective, less transparent and skewed in favour of less qualified candidates sponsored by vested interests both within and outside the judiciary.

“The FJSC had acted and conducted itself in utter disregard to the processes and rules of the NJC.

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the NJC are called upon to as a matter of urgency direct the suspension of and investigate the exercise.”

If the selection is allowed to stand, they said, “then it would portend a grave danger not only to the judiciary, but to the entire country”.

TheCable understands that a meeting has been slated for this week to review the nominations.