Calls Mount For Unbundling Of CJN’s Office To Enhance Judicial Accountability
In a bid to bolster transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s judiciary, a diverse group of stakeholders including lawyers, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other concerned citizens have advocated for the unbundling of the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
These calls were articulated in a communique issued at the conclusion of a one-day conference on Judicial Accountability, organized by the TAP iNitiative with support from Open Society Foundations.
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The theme of the conference, “Impact of Judicial Accountability on Democratic Resilience and Public Trust in the Legal System,” drew the participation of 540 individuals from various sectors including the judiciary, civil society, legal profession, academia, and international development partners.
Among the attendees were notable figures such as retired Justice of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Buba (Rtd.); J.S. Okutepa, SAN; Adamson Adeboro, SAN; Ohiozoba Ehiede, CP legal; Victoria Benson; Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, Lillian Okenwa, and the convener of the conference and Executive Director of Tap iNitiative, Mr Mbasekei Martin Obono who all signed the communique.
The communique highlighted concerns regarding the perceived concentration of power in the office of the CJN, particularly in key institutions such as the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the National Judicial Institute, and the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee.
Participants argued that the extensive powers wielded by the CJN could potentially lead to abuses and undermine accountability structures within the judiciary. They emphasized the need to reevaluate the role of the CJN and advocated for the unbundling of responsibilities, particularly as the head of multiple judicial bodies.
Furthermore, the conference participants stressed the importance of transparency in judicial appointments as a means to address systemic issues and restore public trust in the judiciary. They called for a rigorous integrity requirement for judges’ appointments and urged for a more transparent process to curb nepotistic practices and ensure merit-based selections.
The convener of the conference and Executive Director of Tap iNitiative, Mr Mbasekei Martin Obono said that the conference aimed to underscore the pivotal role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democracy and to underscore the significance of judicial accountability in upholding the rule of law and promoting public confidence in the Nigerian legal system.
PHOTOS SPEAK>>>>
Mr Mbasekei Martin Obono, Executive Director of Tap iNitiative/Conference convener
Cross-section of panelists at the conference
