Ex-NBA Boss Olumide Akpata Questions Nomination Process of Judges in Nigeria’s Judiciary
- Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has slammed the recruitment process of Nigerian judges
- He described it as a judicial capture by the political class who have distorted and interfered in the affairs of the judiciary
- Chidi Odinkalu, a law professor, also agreed with the assertions of Akpata as he questioned heads of the court who recruit their spouses and children
Legit.ng journalist Segun Adeyemi has over 9 years of experience covering political events, civil society, courts, and metro
Paris, France - Olumide Akpata, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has expressed concern over the quality of judges produced by the Nigerian judiciary, suggesting that the process relies heavily on luck.
Speaking at the International Bar Association (IBA) conference in Paris, France, Akpata highlighted Nigeria's status as the most prominent black nation on earth and identified a significant issue he termed "judiciary capture."
Source: Twitter
Chidi Odinkalu, a law professor and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), echoed Akpata's sentiments in a series of videos posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Akpata, aspiring for the Edo State governorship, lamented the alleged manipulation of the judicial system by Nigeria's political class.
As reported by Premium Times, the former NBA president, Akpata, who served from 2021 to 2022, shared insights from his tenure on the National Judicial Council (NJC), responsible for judge recruitment and discipline.
He described the judge recruitment process as "bizarre" without providing specific details.
Odinkalu backs Akpata's assertions
Akpata said:
“For a good judge to emerge out of that process is by fluke only; sheer luck with judicial appointment in Nigeria. It is ridiculous.”
“While I was president of the NBA, what I found out was that there is a deliberate attempt on the part of the political class in Nigeria to capture the judiciary.
And that has very insidious consequences for rule of law in Nigeria. It is deliberate and it is intentional. And it is achieving results for them.”
The controversy surrounding the appointment of judges in Nigeria has led to calls for reforms, with critics like Odinkalu questioning instances where heads of courts appointed their family members as judges.
Odinkalu termed this situation as "judicial capture."
Lawyer calls for more courts in Nigeria
Reacting to the assertions of Akpata, the secretary of the NBA Epe branch, Aare Oladotun Hassan, said relatives of judges becoming judges is a matter of competence.
He stated that being related to a judge does not limit one's right to becoming one so long the person is qualified for the position.
Barrister Hassan, who also doubles as the president of the Yoruba Council worldwide, stated that the main problem of the judiciary is the limited number of courts.
In a phone interview with Legit.ng, he said:
"We don't have enough courts and that is where the problem lies. Federal high court ought to be established in every local government in Nigeria.
"We need to have at least four federal high court in every local government in Nigeria... State high courts needs to be spread beyond the city centres of states."
Barrister Hassan also noted that having more courts helps serve the citizens' interest, lessen the burdens of judges, and afford them more time and keenness to rule over cases.
S'Court: Retiring judge critics CJN over non-representation of all geo-political zones in panel
Meanwhile, Justice Dattijo Muhammad, a Supreme Court judge, has expressed concern over omitting two geo-political zones in the presidential election appeal panel.
He critiqued the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola, for failing to discharge his duties judiciously.
He stated his concerns at his retirement validator event to mark an end to his 43 years as a judicial custodian.
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Source: Legit.ng
