None of the 12 judges recently approved by the National Judicial Council to the National Industrial Court is qualified, the Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) has alleged, calling for a review of the appointments.
None of the 12 judges recently approved by the National Judicial Council to the National Industrial Court is qualified, the Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) has alleged, calling for a review of the appointments.
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In a letter to the Chairman of the National Judicial Council dated May 14, the group cited Section 2(4) of the National Industrial Court Act concerning eligibility for the position of a judge of the court, which provides as follows:
• “The person is a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than ten years and has considerable knowledge and experience in the law and practice of industrial relations and employment conditions in Nigeria; or
• The person is a graduate of a recognized university of not less than ten years standing and has considerable knowledge and experience in the law and practice of industrial relations and employment conditions in Nigeria.”
ACN called the appointments “illegal” as none of the 12 candidates fulfill the requirements.
“Since Justice A. Babatunde Adejumo, the President of the National Industrial Court who submitted the list of shortlisted candidates deliberately deceived the National Judicial Council we call on Your Ladyship to review the illegal appointment in order to save the National Judicial Council from embarrassment,” the petition said, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw the nominations as they are against the law and the National Industrial Court Act.
Full text of the letter:
May 14, 2013
The Chairman,
National Judicial Council,
Supreme Court Complex,
Abuja.
ILLEGAL APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES OF THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT.
We have confirmed that the National Judicial Council under your able and incorruptible leadership has recently approved the appointment of 12 lawyers as judges of the National Industrial Court.
We wish to draw your attention to the illegality of the appointment as none of the 12 candidates is qualified under section 2(4) of the National Industrial Court Act which states as follows:
“A person shall not be eligible to hold the office of a judge of the court unless:-
a. The person is a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than ten years and has considerable knowledge and experience in the law and practice of industrial relations and employment conditions in Nigeria; or
b. The person is a graduate of a recognized university of not less than ten years standing and has considerable knowledge and experience in the law and practice of industrial relations and employment conditions in Nigeria.”
From the information at our disposal the 12 candidates have no “considerable knowledge and his experience in the law and practice of industrial relations and employment conditions” – if having not handled any case in either the Industrial Arbitration Panel or National Industrial Court.
Since Justice A. Babatunde Adejumo, the President of the National Industrial Court who submitted the list of shortlisted candidates deliberately deceived the National Judicial Council we call on Your Ladyship to review the illegal appointment in order to save the National Judicial Council from embarrassment.
We use this medium to also call on Mr. President, GoodLuck Ebele Jonathan to withdraw the nomination of these 12 Judges as it is against the law and not in conformity with the provisions of the law as stipulated in the National Industrial Court Act.
Accept the assurances of our highest esteem.
Yours sincerely,
Otunba Dino Melaye
Executive Secretary
Anti-Corruption Network
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