The Nationwide Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday beneficial Justice Kudirati Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as the following Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
That is simply because the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) declined feedback on the alleged infractions in her Asset Declaration type.
When requested in regards to the petition towards Justice Kekere-Ekun, the officer accountable for press affairs within the bureau, Veronica Kato, declined remark, saying that regardless of the CCB is doing concerning any petition can’t be disclosed.
This determination of the NJC is on the heels of the truth that the incumbent CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will formally bow out of workplace subsequent week, on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
If accredited by President Tinubu, Justice Kekere-Ekun could be the second feminine CJN after Justice Muktar Aloma.
Apart from, the Council additionally beneficial 28 candidates for appointment as judges of states’ courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court docket of the FCT, Abuja, to their numerous state governors
The advice was made by NJC at its 106th assembly of August 14 and 15, presided over by the outgoing CJN, Ariwoola.
An announcement by the NJC director of knowledge, Mr Soji Oye, and launched on Thursday in Abuja contained the suggestions.
On the assembly, six candidates have been beneficial to Kwara State governor for appointment as judges of the Excessive Court docket within the state.
They’re Olawoyin Ibijoke Olabisi, Abdulrazaq Fatimah Funsho, Folorunsho Oba Muritala, Dikko Yusuf Adebayo, Adeniyi Oluwatosin Adenike and Osuolale-Ajayi Temitope Olalekan.
Rivers State has eight candidates for appointment into its excessive court docket and they’re Onyiri Frank, Ugoji Victor Chinedum, Obomanu Godswill Vidal, Oguguo Rita Chituru, Fubara Alatuwo Elkanah, Kokpan Bariyima Sylvester, Obu Ibietela Harmless Madighi and Wifa-Adedipe Lesi.
On its half, Ondo State has six nominees and they’re Daomi Williams Adebisi, Fabuluje Adewumi William, Ogunwumiju Mobayonle Idowu, Demehin-Ogunbayo Inumidun Happiness, Kpemi Ojufisintei Justinah and Adegoroye Olufunke Adeola.
Benue Judiciary has beneficial 4 candidates as judges they usually comprise Kor Vincent Tersoo, Ikwulono Maigida Maimuna, Adagba Nguhemen Julie andT or Damian Tersugh.
As well as, the Council forwarded two nominees for appointment as judges of Benue Sate Customary Court docket of Attraction and they’re Onche Ogah Inalegwu and Igba Theophilus Terhile.
NJC nominated one candidate, Zubairu Murtala Ja’afaru, for Kaduna state excessive court docket.
Muhammad Lawal Munir was nominated as Kadi for the Federal Capital Territory Sharia Court docket of Attraction.
In the meantime, a gaggle below the umbrella physique of the Oduduwa Descendants Coalition for Justice has dragged Justice Kekere-Ekun earlier than the Code of Conduct Bureau over alleged false declaration of belongings.
In a letter dated August 10, 2024, and signed by the nationwide coordinator, Comrade Kehinde Johnson Olawale, the group stated the petition is to make sure a correct investigation into the belongings declared by the choose.
Olawale stated the petition is essential as Justice Kekere-Ekun is more likely to occupy the workplace of CJN.
Within the petition, the group alleged that the incoming CJN contravened the regulation by not absolutely declaring her belongings when she turned a justice of the Court docket of Attraction.
The group additionally accused Kekere-Ekun of false belongings declaration upon turning into a choose of the apex court docket and urged the CCB to research the allegations.
A part of the petition learn: “We’re a physique of assorted socio-political and cultural teams with a mission of advancing good conduct and moral values on the a part of these occupying public workplace.
“It’s as a result of the topic of this petition is aspiring to occupy the very best judicial workplace within the land that makes it expedient for us to ahead this petition, with the hope that it will likely be handled with dispatch and a excessive stage of seriousness.
“On the numerous occasions she occupied public workplace as a judicial officer, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun failed or refused to abide by the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which has been in pressure since 1991.
“For instance, in Might 1999, on the finish of her tenure as chairman of The Theft and Firearms Tribunal, Ikeja Zone II, Lagos, she didn’t submit her belongings declaration type to your Bureau, as mandated by the Enabling Act and the Nigeria Structure.
“Additionally in 2013, on the finish of her tenure as a Justice of the Court docket of Attraction Nigeria, she didn’t fill and submit her belongings declaration type.
“The belongings declaration type she ultimately crammed and submitted upon assumption of workplace as a Justice of the Supreme Court docket of Nigeria contained false declarations and unverified statements.
“By this petition, we’re requesting that you just use your good places of work to make sure that the above allegations are totally investigated, to keep away from the large embarrassment which will befall the nation if the appropriate factor isn’t accomplished timorously.”
The group asserted that it hoped the report of the investigation would help the Nationwide Judicial Council and the Senate to return to a balanced determination as to the suitability of Kekere-Ekun for appointment as the following CJN.
