• Want appointment on merit, not federal character

Stakeholders in the judiciary including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, on Saturday advocated the use of merit other than Federal Character as major criterion for appointment of judges in the country.

They spoke at a webinar organised by the Justice Research Institute.

According to them, the reform regarding judges’ appointment became necessary in order to restore the honour and dignity of the judiciary lost to the manipulation of politicians and various sectional interests in the country.

This is as they agreed that the integrity of the judicial system is central to the country’s democracy because the courts decide who is properly elected or not.

They noted that when people lose faith in the judicial system, they have no choice but to resort to self help.

While arguing that the perceived lapses in the judiciary and entire democracy should not be entirely blamed on judges, the vice-president disclosed that the judiciary is constantly under pressure from politicians and other interest groups to do their bidding.

“You can’t pick out the judiciary alone as causes of failure.

“Nigerian elite, politicians want to own things; they want every decision to favour them. They influence how judges are appointed.

“Today, you can own the judge, tomorrow another person can own the judge – it doesn’t make sense.

“We need to have this conversation. It is not enough to say judges are bad,” Osinbajo said.

(NOTG)