Court urged to void NJC’s list on judges’ appointment

Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to set aside the list of lawyers nominated by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment as judges.

The request formed part of the prayers contained in a suit filed yesterday by a group, the Incorporated Trustees of Stand for Rights Initiative (SRi).

Since its release on April 26, 2020 the list has continued to generate controversies, with groups querying its fairness. But, SRi is concerned with the list as it relates to the 33 lawyers nominated for appointment as judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

SRi is, in the suit, marked:FHC/ABJ/CS/490/2020, querying the propriety of what it described as the deliberate exclusion of lawyers from Akwa Ibom State from the 33 nominated for the High Court of the FCT.

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Listed as respondents are the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the NJC, NJC’s Chairman, Chief Judge of the High Court of the FCT and the FCT Judicial Service Committee (FCTJSC)

The plaintiff, in an originating summons filed by a team of lawyers led by Chief Sunday Essienekak, raised six questions for the court’s determination and prayed it for 10 reliefs.

It is contending that the exclusion of names of candidates from Akwa Ibom State from the list was a violation of the Constitution, the Federal Character principle and the provision of Section 2 of the High Court of the FCT (names of judges) Act 2003 (as amended).