Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola to address a petition written against a prospective judge of the high court in Niger State.
MURIC is demanding a quick consideration of the petition to determine whether or not it has merit.
The Islamic group disclosed this in a statement by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Friday.
This is coming hours after the Senate confirmed the nomination of Justice Ariwoola as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Wednesday.
“A petition dated 17th March, 2022 and signed by one Ibrahim Shehu, a Nigerian citizen, against a prospective high court judge of Niger State, was submitted to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and chairman National Judicial Council (NJC),” MURIC’s statement read in part.
“Although the petition was stamped received at exactly 10.46 am on 18th March, 2022, in the office of the CJN, while at least two reminders have been submitted on 5th and 25th July, 2022, nothing has been heard by the petitioner since then.
“According to Ibrahim Shehu, the petitioner, the applicant claimed to have been born on 4th April 1964 but he was actually born on 4th April, 1962 based on what he submitted to the Nigeria Law School. The petitioner further revealed that the high court judge applicant was called to bar on 24th January 1998.
“The petitioner, therefore, requested the NJC to thoroughly investigate the applicant and act accordingly.
“If those who come to equity must come with clean hands, so must those who administer it. The judiciary is the last hope of the hoi polloi. That hope will become unending frustration if people of questionable character are allowed to sit on matters affecting the destiny of the citizenry. It is such judges who put up justice for sale in the hallowed chamber.
“Having provided substantial proof of impropriety in the applicant’s documents, we are of the strong opinion that the highly respected NJC should look at the merit or demerit of the petition and act swiftly and honourably. We must not wait until the black sheep smear the good name of the judiciary before weeding them out. NJC has a responsibility to ensure that no black sheep is allowed to join the judiciary,” the group said.
