V4IJ advised members of the Edo State Judicial Commission (JSC) to follow due process and use merits in the appointment process, adding that any thought of bringing any candidate lacking in the basic characteristics and qualifications to be a judge in the state should perish.
The Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary (V4IJ), a think tank on judicial matters in Nigeria, has warned against the imposition of unqualified candidates who do not have the requisite experience to be judges in Edo State.
V4IJ advised members of the Edo State Judicial Commission (JSC) to follow due process and use merits in the appointment process, adding that any thought of bringing any candidate lacking in the basic characteristics and qualifications to be a judge in the state should perish.
The group in a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Sunday, signed by its President, Douglas Ogbankwa, on behalf of its members, said that the era of writing recommendations to only those shortlisted and favoured by the powers that be are over.
It added that judicial officers handle matters that are too weighty to be left to chance.
The statement is titled "Follow merit and due process in the appointment process for would-be judges in Edo State, Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary (V4IJ) tells Edo State Judicial Service Commission."
V4IJ, however, noted that it was aware of the undercurrent and intense intrigues pervading the appointment process for would-be judges, and vowed that it would not allow the imposition of unqualified candidates.
The statement read in part, "We call on the Edo State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to perish the thought of bringing any candidate lacking in the basic characteristics and qualifications to be a Judge in Edo State, as we make bold to say, we will not allow such to happen, as we will do all that is necessary under the law to stop such.
"The Vanguard calls on the Edo State JSC to send the names of all Applicants who put in applications at the end of the submission exercise to the Bar Association in Edo State and we call on the Bar Association to do a thorough vetting process of all the candidates who submitted Applications to ensure that unqualified candidates and those with proven baggage are sifted out.
"We also call for great consideration to lawyers in the Private Bar and of the male gender in this exercise, as both were greatly short-changed at the last exercise. We know those who have served the Judiciary at the Lower Bench meritorious lying and also those who distinguished themselves in the official bar, they should be given premium of place from their end."
"The days of writing recommendations to only those shortlisted and favoured by the powers that be are over. We are in touch with other partner organisations in Nigeria on this matter and we will wish to state that we will ensure that the process meets the transparency test, as Judicial Officers handle matters too weighty to be left to chance," the statement adds.