NIGERIA @ 66: Judicial Appointments – Between constitutional rigour and political executives’ stranglehold

By Clifford Ndujihe, Politics Editor
THE independence of the Nigerian judiciary has once again been thrown into the crucible of public debate. Amid growing concerns over conflicting judgements and perceived political bias in some election and commercial litigations, stakeholders are asking a critical question: does the process of appointing judges inherently compromise the temple of justice?
While the 1999 Constitution (as amended) outlines a seemingly airtight, multi-layered mechanism to ensure only the finest legal minds ascend the Bench, critics argue that the ultimate power wielded by elected officials, specifically the President and state governors, leaves a major loophole for ...