– Fingers SJC Secretary
There are report that the delay in the inauguration of the new High Court judges for the Imo State judiciary, as we as the alleged petition against the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka, may not be unconnected to the alleged inability of some candidates including the secretary of the State Judicial Service Commission, Nwosu Jennifer Obianuju to scale through the National Judicial Commission, NJC, final interview.
A release issued by the Group (NGO for, fairness, justice/preservation of Fundamental Right) through the coordinator,Comrade Smart Nnadi noted that the said Nwosu was allegedly not qualified to be appointed in the first place, as she did not meet the criteria stipulated for that position.
The release further hinted that the position of the secretary of the State Judicial Commission, SJC, requires a civil servant of the rank of a Director or Permanent Secretary, adding that Nwosu reportedly never worked in any ministry let alone rising to the position of a Director.
It was also gathered that the said secretary of Imo SJC was a Special Assistant to the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr C.O.C Akaolisa, making her an alleged politician rather than a career Civil Servant.
It was also gathered that the secretary of Imo SJC-Nwosu was among the candidates who were interviewed by the National Judicial Service Commission, NJC for appointment as Judges of the Imo State High Court despite her position as secretary of Imo SJC, which first interviewed the candidates.
The Group queried why Nwosu would appear before the same Imo SJC where she is serving as secretary, opining that she was ineligible in view of Section 231 (3) of the Nigeria’s constitution and the other relevant laws.
The Group equally queried whether the Imo SJC secretary, who reportedly did not make NJC final list of the recommended new judges for Imo State Judiciary, has evidence of reasonable number of contested cases concluded at State or Federal High courts, Appeal Court, and Supreme Court of Nigeria, as stipulated in the requirements for appointment of judges.
Meanwhile, condemnations have trailed the alleged attempts to drag the name of the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Chukwuemeka-Chikeka to the mud in respect of the appointment of judicial officers into the Imo State Judiciary.
Some of those who condemned the reported petition against the Imo CJ blamed it on some candidate who failed to make the list of ten 10 new judges said to have been recommended by the NJC for appointment as Imo High Court judges. They as well alleged that one of the failed candidate for appointment as Imo High Court judge ‘masqueraded’ as one Comrade Ndubuisi Onyemaechi, allegedly feigning as Director of Investigation, Civil Society Engagement Platform, CSEP, to sign a petition alleging that the chief judge deliberately falsified her date of birth, so as to secure unmerited elevation to the position of a Chief Judge, CJ.
They also urged Imolites to resist what they called a brazen attempt by disgruntled individuals to impugn the integrity of the judiciary in Imo State.
It also believed that the call for a committee of the Imo Assembly to investigate the Chief Judge, remains dead on arrival since it is said that a Chief Judge cannot be constitutionally investigated by any State Assembly.
