By Kayode Adeoti
The National Judiciary Commission (NJC), yesterday, approved the appointment of four judges in the Kwara State High Court and Sharia Court of Appeal.
The High Court Chief Registrar, Chief Magistrate Matthew Olalekan Adegbite and Director of Civil Litigation, Aliu Gegele are appointed as high court judges.
Also elevated to the bench cadre at the Sharia Court of Appeal are the Chief Registrar, Sarafadeen Anafi and a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Ahmaad Syad.
The judicial officers are expected to be sworn on a date yet to be announced by Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdufatah Ahmed.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Idowu Muhammed Akande in his reaction to the development in a telephone chat with this medium last night congratulated the new appointees.
He said the NJC has found them worthy of the honour saying, “I’m happy for them especially the Director Civil Litigation, is my boss whom I worked with directly. I also congratulate others, Ilorin Bar is happy with the development.
Recall that on April 25, 2018, the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) under the chairmanship of Kwara State Chief Judge, Justice Kawu Sulyman Saidu released an advertorial, pursuant to Rule 3 (3) (a) (i) of the 2014 Revised Guidelines for the appointment of four (4) judicial officers into the state High Court and Sharia Court of Appeal, respectively.
Until the close of the advertisement on 9th May, 2018, it was gathered that no fewer than 45 legal practitioners, including magistrates applied for the noble seat in the legal profession.
A reliable source who spoke with this medium anonymously on the issue then confirmed that the JSC received 45 applications.
“To the best of my knowledge, the commission has received 45 applications among which 12 persons applied for the Sharia Court Khadis while about 33 lawyers and magistrates submitted their credentials for High Court Judge. In fact, some practitioners who are not based in the state also applied,” the sources revealed.
Notable among the applicants are the Ministry of Justice, Permanent Secretary/Solicitor General, Funsho Lawal and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Abdulmumini Adebimpe.
Also in the race is the serving High Court and Sharia Court Chief Registrars, Moses Olalekan Adegbite and Shakariyat Dagbo. All the five (5) Deputy Chief Registrars (DCR) of the state judiciary; DCR Probate and Research, Ibitayo Olawoyin, DCR Magistrate, Nurudeen Adeyanju, DCR Litigation, Nureni Kuranga, DCR Admin. Sherifat Olanipekun and DCR Area Court, Ganiyu Mustapha are said to have forwarded their credentials to the JSC for consideration.
Alex Akoja, the son of late Justice Akoja, an high court judge is also mentioned to have signified interest.
National Pilot was also reliably informed that five lecturers from College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS) and lawyers who are grounded in Islamic law within and outside the state are also gunning for the Sharia court slots.
