Following the refusal of Governor Godwin Obaseki to swear in eight judges in Edo State okayed by the National Judicial Council, NJC, a group, Vanguard For the Independence of the Judiciary is to send a Memorandum to National Assembly to remove the Executive from the appointment processes of Justices and judges.
The group has also petitioned the NJC and Chief Justice of Nigeria, NJC, saying that the Edo situation would set a dangerous precedence in the country.
Convener of the group, Mr. Douglas Ogbankwa in the petition to the NJC and CJN, said:
“We wish to request my Noble Lord to graciously give us the status of the letter, the governor wrote to my Lord concerning the appointment indicated above.
“This is because Governor Obaseki of Edo State is hinging on the fact that there is no reply from My Lord and/or the NJC, as the reason that the eight judges recommended by the NJC have not been sworn in.
“This is in view of the dire state of the Edo State judiciary as we have cases where about four judges are presiding over multiple divisions of the High Court, which threatens the safety of My Lords, the judges on the highway.
“This development has also kept many suspects and defendants in criminal matters in perpetual incarceration, due to the eight Divisions of the Edo State High Court which are not currently manned.
“These divisions are not manned because of the refusal, failure and/or neglect of the governor to swear in the eight judges who have passed through all the processes required by law to be so appointed.
“We wish to state my noble lord that this circumstance attempt to set a dangerous precedence, if not nipped in the bud.
“We state that the appointment of judges is a judicial process and not a political process.
“Our organisation shall reach out to the National Assembly to remove the executive from the appointment processes of all judicial officers in Nigeria, to protect the sanctity of the Nigerian judiciary,” the group added.
