Fijabi Olanrewaju
THE National Judicial Council (NJC) has reportedly removed the name of the wife of the embattled former governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello from the list of nominees for the prestigious position of judges in the state High Court.
Amina’s inclusion in the list of appointed judges and kadis by her husband who was then the governor of the state had elicited negative reactions with legal practitioners instituting legal action against her nomination. This led to the suspension of the process by the NJC.
Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) including Jibrin Okutepa and Yunus Usman had in a suit before a Federal High Court, Abuja Division stated that the list of appointed judges and kadis was done with ethnic and political interference.
They alleged that Bello’s wife, Amina, proposed as a High Court judge neither has experience as a magistrate judge nor meets other requirements.
In response to a letter addressed to the NJC intimating the Council of the pendency of the suit, the Council, in a letter marked Ref. No. NJC/KOG.HC/22/11/418, read, “I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 10th January 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the National. Judicial Council being the apex body in the Judiciary understands that respecting the authority of the court is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental aspect of maintaining a fair and just legal system. As such, the NJC has always been at the forefront of advocating for respect for the rule of law.
“Thus, I wish to inform you that once a suit is instituted against any appointment process, the Council does put the process on hold, pending the matter’s determination. Consequently, the NJC has put on hold the process of appointment of Judges and Kadis for the Kogi State Judiciary, please.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media however reports that Mrs Amina Bello’s name has now been removed from the list. A source who confirmed the development to the medium said the decision marks a critical victory in the ongoing battle against the undue influence of powerful figures in judicial appointments, often referred to as the “#genitalization of the judiciary.”
“The exclusion of Amina Yahaya Bello, who was perceived to have been favoured due to her connections, signals a shift towards transparency and meritocracy within the Nigerian legal system”, the source maintains.
It will be recalled that Mr Bello is being wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corrupt enrichment while serving as governor of Kogi State. He has since gone incommunicado.
Eighteen-Eleven Media