‘Southeast Has Lowest Newly Appointed Appeal Court Justices’ — ADF

The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) on Monday claimed that
the Southeast had the lowest number of judicial officers selected
for the ongoing appointments of Justices of the Court of Appeal by
the National Judicial Council (NJC).

It appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice
of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Mohammed, to intervene in what it described
as the marginalisation of the region.

In a February 15 petition signed by its President, Prof Uzodinma
Nwala and Legal Bureau Coordinator, Max Ozoaka, the ADF alleged
that the ongoing appointments by the National Judicial Council
(NJC) were being manipulated.

It claimed that this was aimed at denying the region its quota
and the appropriate number of Justices in the Court of Appeal,
contrary to the federal character principles in the 1999
Constitution.

According to ADF, only one Justice was appointed from the
Southeast out of 20 Justices being appointed from the six
geopolitical zones, “whereas the other zones were allocated as
follows: Northwest (8), Northeast(3), Northcentral (2), Southwest
(4), Southsouth (2).”

ADF described the NJC recommendation as “a brazen act of
injustice and inequity meted against the Southeast” and appealed to
Buhari and Muhammad to intervene and save the situation.

The group argued that to allow the current exercise to sail
through “would be antithetical to the evolution of an upright
judiciary”.

ADF further noted that “the only way to bring about the
integrity of the Judiciary and citizens confidence is by ensuring
that the process of appointment of persons to such high positions
is in accordance with due process”.

The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) on Monday claimed that
the Southeast had the lowest number of judicial officers selected
for the ongoing appointments of Justices of the Court of Appeal by
the National Judicial Council (NJC).

It appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice
of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Mohammed, to intervene in what it described
as the marginalisation of the region.

In a February 15 petition signed by its President, Prof Uzodinma
Nwala and Legal Bureau Coordinator, Max Ozoaka, the ADF alleged
that the ongoing appointments by the National Judicial Council
(NJC) were being manipulated.

It claimed that this was aimed at denying the region its quota
and the appropriate number of Justices in the Court of Appeal,
contrary to the federal character principles in the 1999
Constitution.

According to ADF, only one Justice was appointed from the
Southeast out of 20 Justices being appointed from the six
geopolitical zones, “whereas the other zones were allocated as
follows: Northwest (8), Northeast(3), Northcentral (2), Southwest
(4), Southsouth (2).”

ADF described the NJC recommendation as “a brazen act of
injustice and inequity meted against the Southeast” and appealed to
Buhari and Muhammad to intervene and save the situation.

The group argued that to allow the current exercise to sail
through “would be antithetical to the evolution of an upright
judiciary”.

ADF further noted that “the only way to bring about the
integrity of the Judiciary and citizens confidence is by ensuring
that the process of appointment of persons to such high positions
is in accordance with due process”.