Controversy Surrounds Supreme Court Succession as NJC Prepares Final Pick

Discontent is spreading across Nigeria over the succession plots at the Supreme Court, with the National Judicial Council (NJC) expected to make the final pick for the bench. Fresh claims have emerged, shedding light on the lopsidedness of the 22-person list compiled by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), leading to concerns among stakeholders.

The age-old process of the FJSC nominating justices to the NJC, under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has faced severe criticism. Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, the most senior justice in the country, is among those expressing concern, asserting a deviation from the traditional practice of selecting senior Court of Appeal justices for Supreme Court vacancies based on their geo-political zones.

Frustration among judicial stakeholders has intensified as the FJSC’s list did not adhere to seniority at the zone level, causing disquiet over the distribution of the 11 Supreme Court vacancies. While North-Central and South-East are allocated three each, North-West receives two, and South-West, South-South, and North-East are assigned one each.

The release of the FJSC list, prepared at the request of CJN Justice Ariwoola, has sparked controversy. Senior justices of the Court of Appeal find themselves overshadowed by younger and junior colleagues in their respective zones on the priority list.

The list has raised eyebrows by overlooking experienced justices, including the second most senior justice of the court, Justice Olukayode Bada, and Justice Tunde Oyebanji Awotoye, both from the South-West. Instead, Justice Adewale Abiru, a junior from Lagos, takes precedence, leaving questions about the selection process.

Analysis reveals that only three of the 11 justices on the priority list stand in line to become future Chief Justices of Nigeria: Justice Moore Adumein (South-South), Obande Ogbuinya (South-East), and Justice Mohammed Baba Idris (North-Central). The deliberate selection of two of them over their senior counterparts adds to the controversy.

Particularly contentious is the nomination of Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, son of the late Chief Justice of Nigeria Idris Legbo Kutigi. Despite being the 54th most senior on the Court of Appeal, he is positioned for a significant judicial career, allegedly driven by interests and forces.

As the apex court awaits the latest additions, questions arise about the succession path for the current nine justices (excluding the CJN). Concerns about the turnover of CJNs surface, with only four justices identified as potential successors based on seniority and age.

The unfolding drama surrounding the Supreme Court succession underscores the need for transparency and adherence to established practices, as stakeholders closely watch the NJC’s final decision on the composition of the Supreme Court bench.