Nigeria Breaking News
Appointment of Justices shrouded in secrecy-Retired High Court Judge
A retired High Court Judge in Kogi State, Justice Alaba Omalaye Ajileye has faulted the process of appointment of judicial officers in Nigeria. Justice Ajileye who x-rayed the judiciary Wednesday in Lokoja during a valedictory court session in his honour said the process of appointing judicial officers in Nigeria is shrouded in secrecy and clandestineness.
Citing evils associated with appointments, Justice Ajileye said there is no transparency in the process of appointing judicial officers.
“Another evil is that recommendations of Honourable Judges and Honourable Justices don’t count. The act of calling for recommendations looks to me like a ritual, exercised merely to fulfil all righteousness. Those who would be appointed would still be appointed with or without recommendations.
“The number of recommendations a candidate receives guarantees nothing for him. The third evil I have seen is that the person a candidate knows matters a lot. And that person must carry a lot of “weight.”
” The fourth evil is that the place where you come from also counts. In Nigerian parlance, it is called the federal character or quota system. There is nothing evil on the face of the principle of federal character. What is evil in it is the way the principle is applied by the functionaries of government. This underscores the point that it is the human being that makes or mars an institution” he stated.
He recalled that the Nigerian judiciary, at the apogee of its glory, withstood the tyranny of the military, armed with guns, stressing that, the Judiciary today has fallen flat before the majestic politicians, armed with Dollars and Naira.
Justice Ajileye said” It was a healthy judicial system in the days of yore, with a reputation for integrity and competence. This was mainly attributable to a fair system of appointment of judges in the superior judiciary wherein appointments were generally made on merit alone. The puzzling question here is, at what point did we get it wrong?”
While admonishing judges to free themselves from every form of influence, except law, Justice Ajileye said judges must liberate themselves from self-imposed shackles and fetters that inhibit independence.
“They can do this if they exhibit, at all times, requisite judicial character. The qualities of courage, firmness, integrity, uprightness, patience, open-mindedness, understanding of the law, compassion, humility, and courtesy should be inseparable from the personality” he added.
The retired High Court Judge appealed to Lawyers to protect and strengthen the independence of the judiciary by being vigilant and prepared to resist any external pressure, forces and interference in the judiciary.
Source: BBC
In other news – Diri is not among governors opposing Buhari’s new naira policy – the Bayelsa govt
The Bayelsa State government has declared that the state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, was not among the group of 10 governors, G-10, opposing President Muhammadu Buhari on the Naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The State government while demanding an unreserved apology from a group of civil society organisations. Learn more
Nigerian singer, Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, has announced that he is currently on “break” from smoking. The ‘Pluto Presido’ crooner announced this while sharing a video from his vocation via Snapchat recently. He advised his fellow smokers to abstain from the habit sometimes.
He said, “No be everytime you go dey smoke igbo, sometimes take a break. I am on break now. I am feeling good. Nigerian celebrities, including Tonto Dikeh, Don Jazzy, Terry G, Faze, Dr Sid and Kizz Daniel have announced quitting smoking in the past.
However, some of them later made a U-turn, with Terry G and Kizz Daniel confirming on their respective social media pages that they have returned to the habit.
Source: Dailypost
In other news – My man pays me allowance – Mercy Eke
Reality TV star Mercy Eke has revealed that she gets paid for being in a relationship. Speaking in a recent episode of the ‘Love Is A Game’, she said: “My guy [partner] pays me an allowance.
But it’s not that I mandated him to do that. I have about six domestic workers. So the allowance is just to assist me to pay my staff. Read more
Singer, Ayodeji Balogun, AKA Wizkid’s first baby mama, Shola Ogudu has revealed that she didn’t know she was pregnant until the pregnancy was five months.
Shola made this known during an interview with former BBNaija housemate, Maria Chike’s podcast, “Mum next door.
According to the mother of one, her parents were concerned about her studies because she was in her final year in the university.
She said, “I had my baby pretty early, I was in a university, my final year. I was pregnant for four months to be honest.
“I didn’t know I was pregnant until I was 5 months gone, my parents concern was I had to finish university and I did with good grades
Source: Dailypsor
In other news – Why I fell in love with Adekunle Gold – Simi speaks out
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has revealed why she fell in love with her husband, singer Adekunle Gold.
The mother of one revealed that she fell in love with her husband because of his graphic designing and photoshopping skills. Read more
The convener of Easyread Legal’s Mentorship Programme, Caleb Oboagwina, has called on members of the Nigerian public to report any lawyer found engaging in corrupt practices for disciplinary action. Oboagwina made this call while speaking to newsmen at the 2nd Externs General Conference and 10th Year Anniversary of the programme on Saturday in Abuja.
Decrying reports of corruption in the legal profession, Oboagwina said corrupt lawyers are sanctioned by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
If you find anyone wanting, don’t be silent. Report such a person immediately for disciplinary action against him or her to serve as a deterrent to others nursing the same evil and unethical ideas.
“Don’t be afraid. Report them no matter their reputation in the profession,” he said. He tasked aspiring lawyers on hardwork and dedication to excel in the profession whenever they are eventually called to the Nigerian Bar, urging young ones to see the profession as something that would redeem the society.
“If we have lawyers who would stand up for their rights, especially when they go up in the judiciary, and shun corruption, the society would be a better place.” Also speaking, the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Clement Chukwuemeka, charged lawyers to speak to power and hold the government accountable when it fails in its responsibility of providing social amenities or infrastructural facilities to the masses.
According to him, the responsibility of lawyers is not to make money but to provide justice where the need arises, especially those who do not have anyone to speak for them.
“Judges grant bail to the high and mighty in corrupt cases after which such cases may be swept under the carpet but the poor are being sent to jail for minor cases because they have no one to speak for them,” he added. Easyread Legal’s Mentorship Programme is a platform that renders assistance to students of the Nigerian Law School engaging in Bar Part ll programme.
Source: Dailypost
In other news – Residents seek quick intervention as bridge linking Adamawa with Borno collapses
Residents of Madagali, a major town in the northern part of Adamawa State which shares borders with Goza in Borno State, have appealed for the quick response of federal authorities after a major bridge in the town collapsed.
The Madagali Bridge collapsed completely in the night of Thursday, August 15, after a heavy rain that caused an overflow of the Madagali River over which the bridge was built. Read more
