A legal practitioner has called on the Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, and the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Bauchi branch, asked them to intervene in the recent nomination of five judges of High Court and five khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal in the state.
A copy of the two separate letters w which was distrubuted to reporters today on Bauchi. Barrister Alkasim quried the process that produced the names of the short listed candidates recommended to the National Judicial Council NJC for appointment
He said “I write with dismay to make an open declaration over the recent just concluded meeting of the Judicial Service Commission JSC Bauchi held on the 23rd November,2023, on the appointment of Five (5) Judges of the High Court and Five (5) Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal Bauchi State respectively,” he wrote.
“The release of the names of the shortlisted nominees has trigger concern in the eyes of the general public and subject of mockery in the performance of the administration of justice in our dear state, Bauchi”
Alkassim noted that the nominees as Judges of the High Court Bauchi were all lawyers of good standing in the legal profession, constitutionally despite hitches in the entire process.
“However, the successful nominees as Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi further drew my attention to the glaring segregation of lawyers as Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi,” he said.
“I am aware with certainty that good number of lawyers of Bauchi indigene had put application in that regalia. To my dismay, only two applicants’ lawyers made up the preferred list while others were put on reserved list and other applications were completely rejected”
The legal practitioner called on the Bauchi State Governor, leadership of the NBA in the state to intervene to ensure justice was done.
“It is worth of note that if this kind of practice is allowed, the existence of lawyers as Khadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi State will become a history.
He urged the NBA to come out and speak for lawyers and the affected applicants.
“Your good voice will further reposed our confidence in your administration of the Branchi,” he stated.
The lawyer urged the NBA leadership demand for the guidelines and procedure followed in making the list for the successful candidates, remarks of all the applicant/candidates and names of lawyers who applied as Kadis of the Sharia court of Appeal.
He advised Governor of Bauchi State has been called upon to set up an independent Judicial Investigation Committee to investigate complaints that trailed the recent nominations of Judges of High Court Judges and Khadis for Shariah Court of Appeal by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in the state.
The open letter to the governor was copied to the Chairman of the JSC, the Grand Khadi Sharia Court of Appeal, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, the commissioner of Police, and the Director State Security Service.
“It could be recalled that on the 23rd day of November,2023 the Judicial Service Commission, Bauchi State held its meeting sequel to the publication dated 19th October,2023 and calle for the nominations of five Judges of High Court, Bauchi and five Kadis of Sharia Court of Appeal,” the letter which read in part, disclosed.
“The recent release of the names of the nominees by the JSC,Bauchi on the 24th November,2023 in a letter with ref no: BAS/JSC/S/ADM/91 drew the attention of the general public, elites, civil societies, lawyers and well-wishers of Bauchi State over what they tamed as injustice”
He called the attention of the governor to allegation that the state judicial system was corrupt and at the verge of crossing the red line of justice.
“It is worthy to note that, misplacement of priority among some heads of Courts in the State has affected the performance of junior and senior staff including judges and Khadis of the State,” he stated.
“Our courts buildings are not something to write home compare to Jigawa as a case of reference. The welfare of the judiciary is cardinal in the fight against corruption."
The legal practitioner expressed confidence in the State Attorney General “who has reached to the zenith in the legal profession with a highly decorative prestigious rank in the professional ladder.
“It is my belief, good use of the State Attorney’s office will help in the administration of Justice in State. I urged the Governor to make good uses of the State Attorneys."
“I write with passionate voice to draw your attention on the need to seek legal advice from the Office State Attorney’s and other stakeholders in the administration of Justice in Bauchi State,” the lawyer wrote.
“The office of the Attorney General of the State is constitutional one. The Attorney General of the state is being regarded as the Chief Law officer the state pursuance to section 195(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic."
“The recent outcry of the general public in the affairs of the State judiciary spurred me of my constitutional responsibilities in the administration of justice in our dear state, Bauchi.
“The judiciary as an integral component of any successful Government is titanic and cannot be seen to disappear in an ocean of bad practice, corruption and injustice”
Barrister Alkassim also called on the governor to initiate judicial and law reforms in view of the problems bedevilliing the judiciary in the state.
“Let me make a special plea for the completion of the abandoned project of the Magistrate Court Complex situate at the Bauchi State High Court Complex,” he said.
“The described project has been abandoned for more than Five. if others have not done it, why not you. Thank you.
In a swift reaction the Chairman Nigeria Bar Association NBA Bauchi State Chapter Dr Ibrahim Danjuma said they have received the complaint of their colleaques and even before they receive his complain they had already took action on the matter because JSC inform them.before they started the exercise and they have also sent to them the list of selected nominees for obsetvation which they gave written to them.
The judicial service commission JSC remain silent over the incident.
When contacted The JSC said they will not say anything on what the lawyer or any person will say because they dont join issue with anyone concerning the selection and nomination of High Court Judges and Khadis for Sharia Court of Appeal.
Secretary of JSC Aminu I lelah said they have followed the laws guiding their activities and if any lawyer or anybody has complain he knows where to take his complain for necessary action but on their part they will not say anything because they dont join issue with anybody.
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