Group accuses NJC of nepotism, asks Buhari to reject 33 lawyers recommended for appointments

President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to reject the 33 candidates recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment as High Court judges of the Federal Capital Territory over alleged nepotism.

A group of Nigerian lawyers under the aegis of Open Bar Initiative, who made the request in a petition to Buhari, claimed that 17 out of the 33 nominees were not only “unqualified”, but got included in NJC’s list because of their “connection” or “family affiliation” with top officials of the nation’s judiciary.

The group petition was dated May 6, 2020 and was signed by Silas Onu and Chidi Odinkalu and five other members of the group.

The group, which pride themselves as lawyers dedicated to defend the integrity of the legal profession in Nigeria, added that it had forwarded the same petition to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Among the nominees in the list, which the group said was not qualified to be appointed as a judge was Hafsat Abba-Aliyu, 42, a daughter of Justice Uwani Abba-Aji of the Nigerian Supreme Court.

Also mentioned in the list included Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, 36, the daughter of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court; Fatima Abubakar Aliyu, 35, said to be the daughter of the immediate past president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Bulkachuwa and Mimi Katsina-Alu, 46, the daughter of late Justice Katsina-Alu, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Others are Ibrahim Mohammed, 40, the son of a former grand-khadi of the FCT; Nwabulu Chineze, 57, said to be a sister to the presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Akure, and Enenche Eleojo, 46, a personal assistant to the chief judge of the FCT High Court.

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The petitioners singled out the nomination of Olufola Olufolashade as really surprising.

According to the lawyers, Olufolashade was initially not among the shortlisted candidates but allegedly got her name “smuggled” into the list by an unnamed top Supreme Court justice.

The lawyers in the petition argued that the manner of the selection was in total negligence of the NJC’s laid down rules and procedures and the High Court of the FCT (number of judges) Act, 2003.

“The selection process is fraught with judicial insider dealing which risk turning the judiciary into an instrument for advancing personal interest and patronage,” the petition read.

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You can see full list of the 33 nominees for appointment by the NJC below:

1. Muhammad Mustapha Adamu

2. Madugu Mohammed Alhaji

3. Josephine Obanor Enobie

4. Kayode Agunloye

5. Enenche Eleojo

6. Nwabulu Ngozika Chineze

7. Abubakar Babashani

8. Aminu Muhammad Abdullahi

9. Nwecheonwu Chinyere Elewe

10. Ibrahim Mohammed

11. Sadia Mu’azu Mayana

12. Mimi Anne Katsina Alu-Apena

13. Kanyip Rosemary Indinya

14. Aliyu Yunusa Shafa

15. Mohammed Zubairu

16. Binta Dogonyaro

17. Christopher Opeyemi Oba

18. Adeyemi Ajayi Jadesola

19. Abubakar Husseini Musa

20. Adelaja Oluyemisi Ikeolupo

21. Mohammed Idris Sani

22. Frances Erhuvwu Messiri

23. Fatima Abubakar Aliyu

24. Jude Ogor Onwuegbuzie

25. Hamza Mu’azu

26. Edward Ajenu E. Okpe

27. Agashieze Cyprian Odinaka

28. Fashola Akeem Adebowale

29. Aliyu Halilu Ahmed

30. Hassan Maryam Aliyu

31. Hafsat Lawan Abba-Aliyu

32. Olufola Olufolashade Oshin

33. Njideka Nwosu-Iheme

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