Lawyers fault CJN’s roles as NJC, FJSC chair
The role of the State Judicial Service Commission and the significant need for reform in the performance of their roles were also addressed.
“About the fact that the current NJC Guidelines may have subverted the intent of the constitutional provision, empowering the State Judicial Service Commissions to make judicial appointments, because the NJC guidelines, rather than authorising the State Judicial Service Commissions to prepare a shortlist of potential candidates for judicial appointments, appear to address that responsibility solely in the chairman.
“And the chairman of the State Judicial Service Commissions are the Chief Judges of the states. So, there was a pointed suggestion that in the short term, even before we get to constitutional amendments, regarding the composition of State Judicial Service Commissions, a low-hanging fruit that could be dealt with immediately, is an amendment of that aspect of the NJC guidelines to make clear that the development or preparation of shortlist of candidates for judicial appointments is something that is to be done by the Commissions as a whole and not just by the Chief Judges,” he added.
Ajibade also disclosed that a resolution was made on the need to reduce the number of cases that make it to the Supreme Court to reduce the workload of the court.
In Nigeria, apart from state legislative and National Assembly election petitions which terminate at the Court of Appeal, other matters such as burglary, theft, and more are finalised at the Supreme Court.
“There is the importance of limiting the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and ensuring that matters that would go to the Supreme Court would only be matters of significant national importance.
“And, even at that, it would only be by the leave of the Supreme Court. The automatic right of appeal to the Supreme Court will be severely curtailed and will be limited only to matters relating to the office and the election into the office of the president of the federation, Vice President, and Governors of the states”, he added.
