NJC shortlists judges for Niger State Courts

The National Judicial Commission has shortlisted
three High court Judges to be enlisted into the services of Niger State judiciary.

Three of the shortlisted were among the 34 of the applicants who earlier applied for the appointment as High Court judges in the Niger State Judiciary in the High court Divisions.

Already, four High Courts exist in the State without presiding judges, but being overseen by a visiting judge.

The high courts are in Kuta, Kutigi Lapai, and Newbussa while in less than a year two more judges would be retiring from the service of the State Judiciary.

Not fewer than six of the applicants were screened by the Department of Security Service (DSS), Niger State command out of which three of them made the first list while three others were on reserve list.

As part of the prepation for the appointment of the three High Court Judges in the state a visiting team from the National Judicial Council (NJC), has inspected some of the facilities in the State to facilitate the appointment to man their respective courts.

Among the facilities inspected by the visiting team include the court room, Chambers, residential accommodation for the judges, and their official vehicles among other facilities.

Already, five official vehicles have been purchased by the Niger State government as part of the basic requirements for the appointment of High court Judges by the NJC.

The five vehicles, all Jeep brands, CAPITAL POST gathered that two of them are for the appointment of two Khadis of the Niger State Shariah Court Divisions of the state Judiciary.

A total of 34 applications were received from both private and public legal practitioners as well as some magistrates within and outside Niger State.

It was reliably gathered that out of the 34 applicants, six of them were considered and their names were forwarded to the Niger State Command of the Department of Security Service (DSS), for screening.

It was gathered that the first three were forwarded to the NJC for consideration to be appointed into the High court of the State Judiciary as judges.
Among the three shortlisted include Hajiya Aisha Wodu Bawa a Deputy Chief Registrar in-charge of Administration in the Niger State Judicial headquarters, Hajiya Mariam Daso Jibo Deputy Chief Registrar in-charge of Litigation in the State Judicial headquarters and Hajiya Hauwa Baba Yusuf a Chief Magistrate in the service of the Niger State Judiciary.

Out of the 12 existing High court Judges in the service of the Niger State Judiciary, seven are women and three more women will be appointed bringing the total of 10 women as High court Judges.

However, the current chief judges of Niger State Justice Aisha Lami Bawa Bwari will be exiting out of service by 27 February,2022 the next in the heiranchy another female Justice Halina Ibrahim Abdulmalik will succeed her as the forth female chief judge in the state.