Controversy looms over list of recommendations for Judicial officers as the National Judicial Council, NJC, has recommended Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr, the son of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and 22 others for appointment into the Bench of the Federal High Court.

The list comprised one Grand Kadi for Kaduna State, Four (4) Kadis, Sharia Court Of Appeal, Kano State, And Twenty-Three (23) Judges, Federal High Court.

A curious inclusion on the list of Federal High Court Judges in the son of Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr. The CJN’s son was recommended for the Federal High Court bench along with 22 others, who passed the screening and interview of the council.

A statement published by the Director of Information of the NJC, Mr Soji Oye disclosed the full list and noted that all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC’S recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors and confirmation by their State Houses of Assembly as the case may be.

According to information gathered by TheNigeriaLawyer, before his appointment Ariwoola Jnr was the Principal Partner of OLUKAYODE ARIWOOLA & CO, a law firm based in Abuja. Besides that, little information could be accessed with respect to his history, experience and involvement.

Recall that Judges of the Federal High Court are appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and must have been qualified as legal practitioners for at least 10 years. Appointments are on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

The appointment of the CJN’s son comes on the heel of vocal lamentations from popular rights activist and social critic, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu on what he termed “Judicial Nepotism And Corruption, which sees Sons, Daughters, and Acquaintances of Politicians Fill the Bench”

Prof Odinkalu whilst speaking to the members of the Press on Thursday, 15th of June 2023, stated unequivocally that judicial independence had been trumped and appointments to the Bench had been politicized.

He recalled that of the 34 original nominees to the Bench, 23 were sons, daughters, mistresses and acquaintances of the top-ranking politicians.

The Human Rights advocate admitted that recent appointments to the Bench were largely influenced by a senior member of the Bench (unnamed), and the appointments were made behind series of close-door meetings and back-door handshakes between the judiciary and the Executive.

He made a satirical allusion to the game of chess, claiming that judicial officers were akin to pawns in the political landscape, and are in high-demand by corrupt politicians. This Executive-Judiciary tag team, he stated sadly, was veering away from the core tenet of democracy: separation of powers, and undermining free and fair elections. He lashed out at the manipulative use of the Judiciary to secure highly coveted electoral positions, making reference to the case of Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa.

The veteran lawyer surmised rather painfully, that the judiciary did not realize the enormity of the power vested in them by the Constitution and other relevant legal frameworks. Thus, it has abdicated its core responsibility to dispense justice, choosing rather to fraternize with self-seeking, sleazy and corrupt politicians in thwarting democratic processes.

Source: TheNigeriaLawyer