Society Gists

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed a letter that went viral and claimed it had given state governors the legal authority to appoint and promote judges.

Olukayode Ariwoola, the chief judge of Nigeria and head of the NJC, is purportedly the signatory on a letter dated July 14, 2023, which Soji Oye, director of information at NJC, said has “no iota of truth” in it.

The NJC asserted that the letter describing various important details about the order of seniority and recommending Umar Abubakar be appointed the substantive chief judge of Kebbi never originated from the council.

“The fake letter titled ‘Order of Seniority of Judges of the High Court of Kebbi state and recommendation of Justice Umar Abubakar as the substantive chief judge of Kebbi state’, addressed to the chief judge, stating that ‘under section 10 of the existing law of Kebbi state 1996, His Excellency, the governor, has the power to determine seniority of judges and the NJC has no power to override or reverse the decision of His Excellency’,” the statement read.

“It further stated that the office of the head of court/chief judge is purely a political appointment to be decided by the governor of a state.

“For the purpose of clarification and avoidance of doubt, the NJC hereby emphatically disclaimed the letter as there is no iota of truth in it, and no such letter ever emanated from the office of the chief justice of Nigeria or the Council.

“The public is hereby advised to discountenance the letter and its content.”

Oye further said the council has reported the “unfortunate case” to the relevant security agencies to investigate and bring to book whoever is behind the letter.