Former NHRC Chairman, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has questioned the credibility and transparency of the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) appointment process.
Public Feedback Without Assurances Discourages Participation
Odinkalu warned that without clear guarantees, Nigerians won’t trust the NJC’s recent call for public input on judicial nominees.
He stressed that people are unlikely to participate unless the NJC explains how it will use submitted information.
NJC Opens 14-Day Feedback Window for 80 Nominees
The NJC recently published a list of 80 judicial candidates and invited the public to submit relevant feedback within 14 days.
These include 53 High Court nominees, 20 for Sharia Courts, 7 for Customary Courts, and 2 state Chief Judge candidates.
NJC Warns Against False Claims, But Offers Little Clarity
The Council warned against malicious submissions and shared an official email for feedback: info@njc.gov.ng.
While Odinkalu welcomed the step, he criticized the lack of clarity on what follows after the submission period ends.
Digital Era Demands Better Accountability, Says Odinkalu
Odinkalu expressed doubts about NJC’s ability to process large volumes of digital feedback in today’s open-source environment.
He cited past instances where feedback from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was ignored under the former Chief Justice.
Elite Interests Dominate Appointments, Odinkalu Alleges
Odinkalu alleged that non-insider applicants are often sidelined, with appointments going to relatives of powerful figures.
He called this practice a “brazen looting of judicial appointments” and said it undermines public trust in the judiciary.
NJC Must Prove It Values Public Input
He concluded that public consultations are meaningless without transparency, accountability, and genuine impact on final decisions.
“The NJC must prove it can act on the information it receives if it wants to be taken seriously,” he said.
