National Justice Summit 2024: FG, International IDEA, others call For Reforms in judicial appointment processes 

•Summit seeks reduction of CJN’s powers

By: Michael Mike

Federal Ministry of Justice, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and other stakeholders in the nation’s judiciary have made far reaching recommendations that will address the issues of judicial appointment process, funding and eradicating delays in the administration of justice in Nigeria, at the just concluded two-day National Summit on Justice 2024.

The event was organised by the Federal Government in collaboration with the European Union funded RoLAC II Programme of the International IDEA.

In a communique issued at the end of the summit at the weekend, it was noted that the National Policy on Justice 2024 to 2028, will now serve as a roadmap, paving the way for a more efficient, equitable and responsive justice system for all Nigerians. 

Chairman, Joint Planning Committee of the Justice Summit, Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, who read the communique, said the summit had three technical sessions.

Ajibade stated that the general consensus reached at the summit was that the role of the National Judicial Council in discharging its responsibility for judicial appointments into the Superior Court of record required significant review.

The stakeholders expressed concern about the fact that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who is the chairman of the NJC is also the chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the body that initially reviews proposals or lists of candidates by appointment into judicial office. 

The summit pointed out the seeming inconsistency between the CJN playing both roles, as it would appear that he is recommending candidates to himself being chairman of both bodies, and being the person who appoints a significant number of the members of both bodies other than those who are statutory members.

There’s a general consensus by the summit on the need to reconstitute or propose  reconstitution of both the NJC and the FJSC. 
On the role of the State Judicial Service Commission in judicial appointmens, the summit concluded that there was a significant need to ensure that composition of the SJSC is more diverse, that it reflects the interests of the users of the justice sector. 

Stakeholders noted the fact that the current NJC guidelines may have subverted the intent of the constitutional provision, empowering the SJSC to make judicial appointments, because the NJC guidelines, rather than authorising the SJSC to prepare a shortlist of potential candidates for judicial appointments, appear to address that responsibility solely in the Chairman (Chief Judges of States). 

The summit therefore called for an amendment of the  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.

On the general approach that ought to be taken to reforming the judicial appointments process, the summit stressed that focus should be on increased transparency in the appointment process,  meritocracy and on meaningful performance evaluations of those who seek judicial office.
Also, it was recommended that Nigeria should consider the model that is currently being used in Kenya. 

There was a consensus on the need to codify the judicial appointments process, such that the discretion that is currently witnessed in the appointments process is reduced to the barest minimum. 
On funding, budgeting and administration for the judiciary, the summit resolved
that the current process for funding the courts was totally deficient as it was evident that the provisions of the Constitution as amended by the Fifth Amendment, authorising that funding for the State courts should be a joint effort carried out by the executive and the judiciary was not being implemented in any shape or form in the majority of the states. 

Clear recommendations were made that this was something that needed to be pursued and dealt with decisively, as the summit stated that funding of the judiciary at the federal level is much better than what obtains in the States of the Federation.

More so, the summit observed the need to professionalise the administration of the courts, as well as to appoint persons with clear administrative experience to be selected through a transparent process to administer the courts, and to separate the administration of the courts from the administration of justice. 

On eradicating delays in the administration of justice agenda for leveraging the rules of procedure and effective case management in Nigeria, the panel considered 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. 

The summit held that before a matter goes to apex court, it would only be by the leave of the Supreme Court, and that the automatic right of appeal to the 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, and Governors of the States. 

National Justice Summit 2024: FG, International IDEA, others call For Reforms in judicial appointment processes 

Borno: Zulum visits Malam-Fatori, commends Tinubu

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum on Sunday travelled to Malam-Fatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Council in the Northern part of Borno State.

During Sunday’s visit, Zulum commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his prompt attention to the fight against the insurgency in the Northeast.

Zulum, while interacting with officers and men of the task force battalion in Malam-Fatori, gave assurance of providing the necessary support to complement the federal government’s efforts.

During the meeting, Zulum discussed the modalities for returning people to the Malam-Fatori community, who were displaced by flooding last year, after their initial resettlement by the Borno State Government.

“ I have interacted with the officers here, and looking at the commitment and hard work of the commanding officer, I believe we can resettle the people back to this community,” Zulum said.

He added, “I am happy that a number of people of Malam-Fatori, who reside in D
Bosso were able to cross over and cultivate their farmlands; this is a huge achievement.”

The Governor also extended his gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, for his commitment to restoring peace in Borno State.

Zulum was accompanied by the member House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba, the member representing Abadam at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Jamna Bong, Commissioners of Information and Internal Security and that of Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Prof. Usman Tar and Hon Sugun Mai Mele respectively.

Also present are the Acting Commander of Sector 3 Operation Hadin Kai/Multinational Joint Task Force, Monguno, Mohammed Faggo Babayo, Commander 19 Brigade, Cross Kauwa, Saidu Shehu Ahmed, Chairmen of Abadam and Mobar Local Government Councils, among other government officials.

Borno: Zulum visits Malam-Fatori, commends Tinubu

US Position on Palestine Becoming Full Member of UN, Hypocritical- Palestinian Envoy

By: Michael Mike

The Palestine Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah Shawesh has lambasted United States for blocking his country’s application for full membership of the United Nations (UN).

Shawesh described the excuse that Palestine full membership of UN will hinder the promoted two states solution as hypocritical.

The envoy who spoke at the weekend, lamented that the action of United States was nothing more than a tacit support to Israel continuous attacks on Gaza.

Shawesh said: “US has vetoed a Palestinian request to the United Nations Security Council for full membership and becoming the 194th member state of the United Nations.

“The US said that the “full membership of Palestine in the United Nations will not help in reaching a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” Not only did they repeat their unfair position and fully back the Israeli occupation but they also considered the Israeli brutal occupation as just.

“The United States stands strongly against Palestinian legitimate rights.”

He described: “The United States is the iron shield of the Israeli occupation.

“The United States is against the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, which is a basic human right.”

He alleged that: “The United States is the largest sponsor of the Israeli occupation,” stressing that: “The US veto green light to the current Israeli genocide and entrenches the Israeli occupation.”

The envoy added that: “The current carnage and genocide could not have occurred without the full political complicity and unlimited military support of the United States.

“USA took the same Israeli political stand of the Palestinian UN membership.”

Shawesh while revealing that no fewer than 34,183 Palestinian have been killed since the commencement of attacks on 7 October 2023, said 77,143 people wee injured , 8,425 arrested, including 280 women, 540 children, 45 journalists, and 5,210 administrative detentions.

He however explained that the figure of casualty “does not include the Gazans who have been arrested and forcibly hidden.”

US Position on Palestine Becoming Full Member of UN, Hypocritical- Palestinian Envoy