A coalition of civil society organisations have called for a state of emergency in the Judiciary, alleging that “Nigeria’s judiciary, a once proud institution, has lost direction and is now barely a shadow of itself.”
In a 28 March 2024, letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) which was also copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi and Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun JSC, Deputy National Chairman, National Judicial Council, the group observed with concern that “notwithstanding the damning nature of these characterizations and warnings, the leadership of Nigeria’s Judiciary appears unruffled by them, nor by the Judiciary’s loss of esteem, and barely shows any signs of irritation or indignation.”
Citing cases of nepotism amongst other allegations, the coalition in letter signed by Joseph Otteh of Access to Justice on behalf of — Chairman, Human & Constitutional Rights Committee, African Bar Association, Sonnie Ekwowusi, Esq.; Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary, Bayo Akinlade; FundELG Africa, Dominic E. Obozuwa; Open Justice Alliance, Prof. Chidi Anslem Odinkalu; Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre- RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma and Sterling Law Centre; Adedeji Ajare pointed out that:
“The latest of these allegations came last month, after it was alleged that Your Lordship influenced the FCT High Court judicial recruitment process by requesting that a slot be reserved for Oyo State in the recruitment, at the expense of States which had no Judges in the FCT High Court, to ensure that Your Lordship’s daughter-in-law, who is a Magistrate in the FCT Judiciary be selected for appointment as a Judge of the FCT High Court. These allegations are found in a plethora of media publications. We have no record that Your Lordship denied these claims.”
SOURCE: Law and Society
