Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Nomination Of 21 Judges By NJC

A federal high court in Abuja has struck out a suit challenging the nomination of 21 persons by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment as judges of the federal capital territory.

The judgement is consequent upon a suit filed by a group of lawyers challenging the legality

The 21 nominees are among the 33 candidates nominated in April by the NJC to the president for appointment.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/602/2020 and filed on June 10, Justice Reform Project (JRP), a group of lawyers, submitted that 21 out of the nominated persons have not met the criteria nor satisfied the conditions set out in the extant guidelines and procedural rules for the appointment of judicial officers in Nigeria.

The plaintiff (JRP) asked the court to nullify NJC’s recommendation and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the president from “giving effect in any manner whatsoever” to the recommendation made to him by the NJC for the appointment of the 21 persons.

Delivering judgment in the suit on Wednesday, Okon Abang, the presiding judge, held that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to file the suit.

Abang proceeded to dismiss the suit, adding that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Out of the 33 candidates, 11 were selected by President Buhari and have been sworn into office by Ibrahim Muhammad, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), on September 14.