SMBLF faults non-inclusion of Northern Christians among A’Court justices

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has faulted the non-inclusion of a Northern Christian in the latest list of nominated candidates for appointment of Court of Justices of the Court of Appeal, describing it as appalling.

In a statement on Monday, the forum noted that the list was said to have been allegedly compromised by politicians at the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

This was also said to been consequent upon the rejection of the merit list submitted to the Commission by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.

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It is part of the constitutional responsibilities of the PCA to scrutinize candidates and present a list of competent and qualified candidates to FJSC for consideration and onward transmission to the National Judicial Council for appointment.

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The forum said: “It is quite surprising that of the 20 candidates on preferred list, all the candidates picked from the North excluded Christians and with three khadis on board for a court that needs experts in various areas of law, including customary law.”

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It noted that the list of the PCA was said to have reflected all such needs but whimsically overturned at the FJSC under the guise of Federal Character.

“But for the nepotism that is celebrated in Nigeria today, what is the basis of not having a Christian on such list from the entire northern Nigeria.

“We cannot accept that a multi-ethnic and religious country is being treated this way.

Our demand is simple. The FJSC list should be trashed by the National Judicial Council (NJC) immediately for the original list prepared by the President of the  Court of Appeal to avoid lawsuit on this matter,” the forum said.

See Shortlisted names below:

SHORTLISTED JUDGES FOR INTERVIEW BY NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL

PRIORITY CANDIDATES

1. HON KADI MOHAMMED DANJUMA (Niger State Sharia Court of Appeal)
2. HON JUSTICE MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM SIRAJO (Plateau State High Court)
3. HON JUSTICE ABDUL-AZEEZ WAZIRI ( Federal High Court, from Adamawa State)
4. HON JUSTICE YUSUF ALHAJI BASHIR
5. HON JUSTICE USMAN A. MUSALE ( FCT High Court, from Yobe

State)

6. HON JUSTICE IBRAHIM WAKILI JAURO (Yobe State High Court)
7. HON JUSTICE ABBA BELLO MOHAMMED ( FCT High Court, from

Kano State)

8. HON KADI MOHAMED LAWAL OMAR (Katsina State Sharia Court

of Appeal)

9. HON JUSTICE BATURE ISAH GAFAI (Katsina State)
10. HON JUSTICE DANLAMI ZAMA SENCHI ( FCT High Court, from

Kebbi State)

11. HON KADI BELLO LADAN RAHA (Kebbi State Sharia Court of

Appeal)

12. HON JUSTICE MOHAMMED LAWAL ABUBAKAR (Sokoto State

High Court)

13. HON JUSTICE MUSLIM SULE HASSAN ( Federal High Court, from

Zamfara State)

14. HON JU    NETH IKECHUKWU AMADI ( National Industrial

Court, from Imo State)

15. HON JUSTICE PETER OYINKENIMIEMI AFFEN ( FCT High Court, from Bayelsa State)
16. HON JUSTICE JUSTICE SYBIL NWAKA-GBAGI ( Lagos High Court, from Delta State)
17. HON JUSTICE OLASUMBO GOODLUCK ( FCT High Court, from Lagos State)
18. HON JUSTICE ADEBUKUNOLA A.I BANJOKO ( FCT High Court, from Ogun State)
19. HON JUSTICE OLABODE A. ADEGBEHINGBE (Ondo State High Court)
20. HON JUSTICE BOLA SAMUEL ADEMOLA (Ondo State High Court)

RESERVE CANDIDATES

1. HON JUSTICE ASMA’U MUSA MAINOMA (Nasarawa State High Court)
2. HON JUSTICE ARUMA IGYEM ASHOM (Plateau State)
3. HON JUSTICE FADIMA MURTALA-AMINU ((Federal High Court,

from Adamawa State High Court)

4. HON JUSTICE MUAWIYAH BABA IDRIS (FCT High Court, from

Taraba State)