ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Chief Judge Husseini Baba-Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court is facing scrutiny for nominating his daughter, Maryam Baba-Yusuf, as one of the newest judges, raising concerns about nepotism and fairness in the judiciary, Peoples Gazette reports.
The nomination process has raised questions about the exclusion of magistrates from Abia, Imo, Bayelsa, and Ebonyi, despite the federal character policy aimed at ensuring equitable representation across states.
Maryam Baba-Yusuf’s nomination follows a similar pattern seen with Oluwakemi Victoria Ariwoola, highlighting a growing trend of familial appointments within the judiciary.
While states with multiple judges have received additional nominations, the exclusion of magistrates from unrepresented states has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from judicial officers and civic groups.
The nomination process is ongoing, with only Maryam Baba-Yusuf, Oluwakemi Ariwoola, and Munira Ibrahim Tanko confirmed on the final list, raising concerns about transparency and fairness.
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The judiciary’s integrity is under scrutiny, as allegations of nepotism and financial misconduct continue to surface, further eroding trust in the system.
According to a spokesman for the court declined comments on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Baba-Yusuf would only comment after the process has been finalised. But the chief judge’s action so far has already drawn attention, with a letter from a civic group warning that his action could undermine the Nigerian Constitution.
“The underlying philosophy of the FCC [Federal Character Commission] principle is to provide equality of access in public service representations to curb dominance by one or few sections of the country and also to implement and enforce fairness and equity in distributing public posts and socio-economic goods among Nigeria’s various tiers of government,” Abdullahi Ishiaku, complaints director of International Human Rights Commission in Yobe, said in a letter this week to Mr Ariwoola and copied to President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian, the attorney-general’s office among others.
“I was among those who supported the chief judge after his appointment in 2021, and I told him how much I would like to see him succeed,” a judicial officer said under anonymity. “But I am no longer sure where I stand with all these revelations about him.”
According to the court’s website, at least seven magistrates from the four unrepresented states are in currently under the FCT High Court. Chioma Amanwachi from Afikpo, Ebonyi, appointed in December 2020; Chituruka Ngozi Abah from Arochuckwu, Abia, appointed in December 2020; Anthony Ngozi Ekwoaba from Iheduru, Imo, appointed in December 2020; Chiemena Nonye-Okoronkwo from Owerri Municipal, Imo, appointed in December 2020; Elizabeth Jones-Wonni from Sagbama, Bayelsa, appointed in 2004; Abhiranyam Linda Ibegu from Ogbia, Bayelsa, appointed in March 2015; and Ebiwari E. Damini from Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa, appointed in March 2015.