Otu Oka-iwu, Abuja Congratulates Judges Of FCT High Court, Justices of Appeal Court Sworn In By CJN

The appointment is commendable because the increase in the number of judges and justices will help address the challenges of workload and the time lag it takes to conclude a case in the respective courts.

While we congratulate the appointees, we note that in the FCT High Court, each state is represented on the bench. However, our attention is drawn to the fact that while other states are represented, Ebonyi State has no representation to reflect the federal character system as required in the composition of the judges of the FCT High Court.

Ebonyi State undoubtedly has produced fine legal minds in the country. We are, therefore, concerned that the state is not represented in the FCT High Court. For fairness and equity, we hereby appeal to the National Judicial Council to consider this oversight and ensure that Ebonyi State’s quota is filled in the FCT High Court.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the appointment of the judges and justices who were sworn in today comes at a time when all eyes are on the judiciary. Recent publications have criticized the judiciary as corrupt and a major part of the problem faced in Nigeria.

It is believed that if the judiciary were independent and had stood its ground, particularly in political cases, some of the atrocities in the country would not have occurred, as many people would be imprisoned for derailing Nigeria and misappropriating our common wealth.

Indeed, all hope may not be lost because, at this time in our beloved country, the clamour for the independence of the judiciary cannot be over-emphasized. The executive and the legislature cannot lay siege to the third arm of government. We strongly condemn the interference of lobbyists and their ilk in judicial affairs, particularly in cases pending in our various courts.

The judiciary should particularly not be politicized. Rather, there should be an improvement in the welfare of judges and judicial officers. We also advocate for state-of-the-art courtrooms because the conditions of some of our courts across the country are not befitting for the tedious work judges are subjected to. The method of recording by hand ought to have been phased out decades ago. Judges need improved healthcare packages as well as sufficient wages to avoid the temptations that come with gratifications.

The Nigerian judiciary is rated as one of the best in the world, but meddlesome interlopers abound, and everything required to be done should be done to rescue the last hope of the common man.

Chidi Udekwe, Esq.
President,
Otu Oka-iwu Abuja