Niger State Judiciary: 34 applicants applied to be High Court Judges

A total of 34 applicants have so far applied for the position of High Court judges for the three slot vacant position s approved by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Equally, no fewer than 24 persons applied for the two vacant positions of Khadis of Sharia Court of Appeal in the Sharia Division of the Niger State Judiciary.

Among those that applied for the vacant position of High Court includes the Chief Registrar of the Niger State Judiciary, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Zabbo, the Secretary of the State Judicial Service Commission (JSC), AbdulRahaman Garafini, Deputy Chief Registrar Administration (DCR), Hajiya Aisha Bawa Wodu and all the DCRs with exception of two of the DCRs.

Other applicants that applied include legal practitioners within public and private legal practitioners.

CAPITAL POST gathered that the submission of the applications has closed while the NJSC secretary will transmit the list to the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Aisha Lami Bawa Bwari for onward transmission to the National Judicial Council in Abuja.

It was further gathered that officials of the National Judicial council will soon visit Niger State to inspect High court facilities, including court rooms, accomodations and others in preparation for the appointment of new judges.

Confirming the report, in an interview, the secretary Niger State Judiciary Service Commission (NSJSC) AbdulRahaman Garafini, explained that the process to fill the vacant position has commenced.

He stated that the screening of applicants will soon commence and those who met the criteria by the NJC will be invited for interview.

“There are three vacancies for high Court judges and two for Sharia court of Appeal, Niger State. So far, we have 32 applicants for high Court and 24 for Sharia court of Appeal. Screening will soon commence in accordance with the criteria set by NJC for such appointment and only those who scale through would be shortlisted for interview”, he disclosed.

The Niger State Judiciary had in the last 6 years appointed 9 Judges of high courts under three Chief Judges, and the incumbent chief judge Justice Aisha Lami Bawa Bwari will be appointing three of the high Court judges.

Already, not fewer than six high Court judges is required in the state Judiciary as three high courts in NewBussa, Lapai and Kuta was being over seen by sitting judges.