Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary Writes the CJN/NJC over Refusal of the Edo State Governor to Swear In the 8 NJC Recommended Judges
In a letter dated 1st of February, 2024, and signed by its Convener,Douglas Ogbankwa Esq, the Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary on the issue of the refusal of the Edo State Governor to Swear in the 8 Judges in Edo State recommended by the NJC, stated thu:
“We wish to request my Noble Lord to graciously give us the status of the letter, His Excellency, the Governor wrote to my Lord concerning the appointment indicated above. This is because the Governor of Edo State-H.E., Gov. Godwin Obaseki is hinging on the fact that there is no reply from My Lord and/or the National Judicial, as the reason that the 8 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 4 judges are presiding over multiple divisions of the High Court, which threatens the safety of My Lords-the judges on the high way and that has also kept many suspects and defendants in criminal matter in perpetual incarceration due to the 8 (Eight) Divisions of the Edo State High Court , not currently 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 organization 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.”
