The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Sunday, demanded the nullification of the recommendation of Olukayode Ariwoola jnr., son of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, for appointment as a Judge of the Federal High Court.
HURIWA, in a statement, described the recommendation as an anomaly, while accusing the CJN of abusing the power of his office in elevating his son to the position of a high court judge.
National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in the statement asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to immediately rescind the junior Ariwoola’s recommendation and end any form of alleged illegal institutionalisation of the judiciary, adding that the judiciary was not a family affair but should be based on the fulcrum of justice and fairness.
The NJC had on July 14, at its 103rd meeting recommended the appointment of Ariwoola junior and 22 others who passed the screening and interview session of the Council.
All recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in after the approval of the President and the respective governors as well as confirmation by the state Houses of Assembly as the case may be.
Ariwoola senior was sworn in on October 12, 2022 and he was the Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), which has the power to advise the NJC in nominating persons for appointment to the office of judge of the Federal High Court.
Justice Ariwoola is also the NJC Chairman.
“The recommendation of Ariwoola jnr as high court judge is tainted with bias and favoritism. It is alarming that the CJN does not have the decency to recuse himself from his son’s recommendation despite the conflict of interest that already made the selection process biased.
“The judiciary is not a family inheritance and the NJC should immediately rescind the recommendation of Ariwoola jnr for the appointment of a high court judge,” Onwubiko said.
Alex Enumah
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