The Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has complained about the undue interference of politicians in judicial appointments across the country.

He explained that the appointment of Judges has always been heavily politicized.

Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was represented by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour at the just concluded Lagos State Judiciary’s first Bi-annual Lecture, themed “Judicial Standards, Integrity, Respect and Public Perception: A Comparative Analysis from Independence in 1960 into the Present Millennium,” stressed that the current system of Judges’ appointment in the country is such that the Governor of a State might not allow the names of persons nominated for judicial appointment to be sent to the National Judicial Council for scrutiny if the names of the Governor’s candidates are not included on the list.

The Chief Judge said that the revelations are not novel and are known to stakeholders in the judicial sector, saying that these are perennial problems that have plagued the administration of Justice in the Country.

“Access to Justice (A2Justice) has consistently, and for over a long period, denounced the use of flawed procedures of judicial appointment to recruit Judges of superior courts and highlighted the negative impact this has had on the administration of justice.

“Political interference in the judicial appointment process, which often leads to the appointment of relatives, associates or cronies of political office holders happens because the Judiciary has not risen to the challenge of defending its space and asserting its own independence.  The National Judicial Council (“NJC”) must, and we say this respectfully, share the blame for this.

“In 2014, in a bid to strengthen the integrity of the judicial appointment process, the NJCadopted new Guidelines for the appointment of judicial officers(The Extant Revised NJC Guidelines & Procedural Rules for The Appointment of Judicial Officers of All Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria.)However, the NJC has not consistently enforced those guidelines or resisted efforts to circumvent them. In some cases, the Council has practically given some Judiciaries which flouted those guidelines what amounted to a free pass even after complaints about their failure to observe the guidelines were made. This happened with the recruitments of Judges into the Federal High Court in 2015, and the appointment of Judges in Lagos State in 2017.

“Therefore, the Nigerian Judiciary should not, and cannot now blow hot and cold at the same time on the subject of political interference in the judicial recruitment process or pass the buck when it comes to the responsibility of de-politicizing the appointment process. The Constitution has given the Judiciary the autonomy it needs to effectively resist political meddlesomeness in judicial appointments, and what the National Judicial Council needs to do, respectfully, is to insist that State and Federal Judiciaries faithfully and scrupulously comply with the letter and spirit of the new Guidelines it has made. Where it fails to do so, that failure will create the space for those who have traditionally preyed on the weaknesses of our judiciary to continue to do so.

“The Nigerian people are keen to hear about practical efforts being made by our Judiciary to end political interference with the judicial appointment process in the exercise of its endowed powers under the Constitution, because strictures are not enough: no length of moral admonition to political office holders, or denunciation of what they do with judicial appointments will stop them from wanting to exert some influence over the process. What is needed from the Judiciary is a tougher resolve and commitment to defend its independence and processes from untoward influences and greater accountability for its actions.

“We thank His Lordship, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, for reprising these concerns and drawing public attention, once again, to the need to restrain political branches from interfering with the affairs of the Judiciary. We believe however, that the Judiciary needs to step up to the plate and do more than it has done in the past, to defend its independence.”

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has complained to the leadership of the pan-Yoruba sociology-political organization, Afenifere that because he refused to join a  Southwest dominated Afenifere and Alliance (AD) in 1999, his fellow Yoruba people refused to vote for him.

“I remember visiting Pa Abraham Adesanya thrice in Lagos before the 1999 election and I was asked to join Afenifere and Alliance for Democracy then, but I told them that AD was a cul-de-sac. Pa Abraham told me that if I joined, things would change; but I refused to join them. I went back the second time, but they refused to work for my emergence.

“I went there again the third time, but Afenifere maintained their stand. They refused to vote for me; but I secured my votes outside Yorubaland, though they supported me in 2003 for my re-election.”

Obasanjo, who visited Afenifere leaders today, Monday, at the residence of Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo State, asked Yoruba leaders to rescue the nation from collapse and maladministration, adding: “our priority is now one. If we do not join hands to repair this country now, it will collapse and this could be disastrous.”

Responding, Pa Fasoranti told Obasanjo: “we want to encourage you in your struggle to make Nigeria the best, said Afenifere leader. You are fearless and that is one of the traits of a good leader. We have been watching you; and your dreams of a better Nigeria shall be realized.

“Nigerians are at a crossroads; we are tired of the killings, kidnapping going on across the country and the President is mute about it.

“We are in full support of all the letters written by Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the nation. We are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the country. The country is not being run properly.

“Nothing is being done properly in this country presently. Look at the killings in the North. The President is very silent about it.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advocated the re-engineering of the Nigeria’s border policies in view of the challenges the country face as a result of the wide and borders.

“It is time to rethink and re-engineer our border policies. This is the paramount responsibility of the commission and we trust that you will deliver.”

The Vice President, who spoke today, Monday, in Abuja, at the National Boundary Commission (NBC) retreat on border management, said that the country has over 4,000 kilometers of external borders, including its Atlantic coastline.

This, he said, is in addition to the thousands of kilometers of borders that the 36 States and the FCT share with one another.

“What happens along these borders greatly affect what happens within them. All you need is a cursory look at the daily news headlines to realize just how much of the issues they embody are determined by activities taking place at or across our land and maritime borders and boundaries; whether it is the smuggling or illegal oil bunkering, or the impact of undocumented migration on the security situation in the North Central, or communal clashes arising from boundary disputes.”
Professor Osinbajo said that The National Boundary Commission is responsible, according to the Act that established it, for defining and delimiting Nigeria’s internal and external boundaries, resolving disputes, promoting trans-boundary cooperation and coordinating all activities on our international boundaries.
“This means that the Commission has a very important role to play in mobilizing and coordinating various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, sub-national governments, foreign governments, bilateral and multilateral organizations, and others, to collectively deal with any and all boundary issues.”
he gave assurance that  the Federal Government fully recognizes the significance of the National Boundary Commission’s role, adding that as part of efforts to strengthen the Commission and reposition it to more effectively fulfill its responsibilities; President Buhari has approved the appointment of six distinguished Nigerians as members of the Board.
The six appointed members, representing the six geo-political zones of the country, Osinbajo added, will work hand in hand with the ex-officio members of the Commission’s Board – Ministers, State Governors, Security Chiefs – as well as the management and staff of the Commission.
The Vice President stressed the importance of members working harmoniously, not only among themselves as a Commission, but also with all external stakeholders.

“As a Commission whose mandate includes ensuring harmonious border relations, charity has to begin at home.”

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Human trafficking and illegal migration, Solomon Okoduwa has announced that no fewer than 100 female students of Idogbo Secondary School, Benin, have been shipped to Libya in  the last four months.

The governor’s aide, who spoke today, Sunday, in Benin during an advocacy programme said thatv some teachers in the school are concerned about how the institution has become the harvesting ground for traffickers.

Okoduwa  made it clear that the state would step up its campaign against trafficking and that the state Task Force Against Human Trafficking will be on the trail of the  human traffickers.

He warned the students to be wary of the antics of the traffickers who are bent on deceiving them into embarking on the dangerous journey.

“Henceforth, report anyone who tells you to travel to Europe. They are simply taking you through Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea and you may eventually end up in Libya. The number of students that have been trafficked from your school in this short period is overwhelming.

“The truth is that many of them might have been imprisoned there or facing one challenge or the other. Taking the route of Sahara Desert and other illegal routes is hellish. Many died of hunger, many were drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pastures.

“Worst still, the families of those people that died on their journey were made to pay for the travel expenses, when unknown to them, their loved ones have gone to the great beyond.

“If anyone tells you to travel abroad through Libya, tell him or her capital ‘NO’.  If you must travel for any reason, travel the right way.”

It was gathered that so far, the state government had received no fewer than 3,400 Libya returnees within the last six months.

Source: NAN.