The Labour Party candidate for the Edo State governorship elections, Olumide Akpata, has condemned the decision of Governor Godwin Obaseki to swear in only five out of the eight new judges recommended for the Edo State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In a statement he personally signed, Akpata said it is regrettable that the achievements of the judges is being tarnished by the grave injustice they have endured at the hands of the Governor.
The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), recalled that for nearly a year, the 8 legal professionals languished in an unconscionable career limbo, suffering immense financial hardship through loss of earnings owing to the refusal of the Governor to perform his constitutional duty to swear in all eight recommended Judges without any plausible justification.
According to Akpata, the fact that Obaseki has now proceeded to unilaterally select and swear in five out of the recommended eight judges is simply a tragedy and a travesty which has further rubbed salt on the injury, riding roughshod over another arm of government in clear violation of the principles of separation of powers and in the process, leaving the other three Judges and their families in a precarious dilemma.
The former NBA President, therefore, called on the National Assembly and the newly constituted Constitution Review Committees of both chambers of the Assembly to immediately initiate constitutional amendments that will permanently insulate the judicial appointment process from such reckless political interference.
Concrete safeguards, he said must also be established to forestall any recurrence of this invidious travesty, not just in Edo State but across the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also called on the citizens of Edo State to demand accountability, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to upholding the sanctity of the institutions from those who would presume to lead the state ahead of the 2024 governorship elections.
Peoplesmind
