Appeal court president, FCT CJ call for nomination of judges

Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court of appeal, has called for nomination of justices to fill 22 vacant seats in the appellate court.

In a letter dated January 24 and addressed to the chief judge of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Dongban-Mensem said the nominations would be based on regional consideration.

Based on regional consideration, the existing vacancies include six for north-central geo-political zone, one for north-east, three for north-west, five for south-east, three for south-south, and four for the south-west.

“My Lord is hereby requested to recommend suitably qualified candidates for consideration,” Dongban-Mensem wrote.

“We emphasize the importance of recommending candidates who exhibit exceptional industriousness, transparency and integrity.

“Recommendations are to be accompanied by “updated and signed curriculum vitae of the nominee, eight judgments delivered in contested cases two years preceding the date of nominations in the case of a judicial officer and 10 judgments obtained in contested cases five years preceding the date of nominations in the case of a legal practitioner in private practice, certified by competent authorities.

“Please be advised that the nomination period will conclude 14 days from the issuance of this letter, being 24h January to 7th February 2024.”

Meanwhile, Husseini Baba-Yusuf, chief judge of the FCT high court, has also called for the nomination of judges to fill vacant benches in the court.

In a letter addressed to various heads of court and dated January 18, Baba-Yusuf said Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) has approved “for the commencement of the exercise for the consideration of candidates to the bench of the Federal Capital Territory High Court”.

However, the chief judge said only eligible candidates from 12 states will be considered.

The states are Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Imo,  Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara. 

“In line with the National Judicial Council Guidelines and Procedural Rules for appointment of judicial officers to superior courts, I hereby invite your lordships, the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice and the president of the Nigerian Bar Association to kindly nominate suitably qualified persons from the aforementioned states for appointment to the federal capital territory high court,” the letter reads.

“Your recommendation to which the curriculum vitae of the candidate should be annexed should reach my chambers latest by 19th February 2024.”