A former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar has blamed godfatherism and lobbying in appointments as responsible for the falling standard in the nation’s judiciary.
She asked stakeholders and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to discourage and discard the factors in order to build a competent and strong judiciary.
She spoke at the weekend in Abuja, at a book presentation in honour of a retired female Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi.
"I will, at this junction, revisit the issue of lobbying and in addition favouritism and godfatherism in the appointment of judicial officers. It is sad that we allow the rising culture of lobbying to influence appointment in the judiciary,” she said.
"If we are to revive what held sway in the past, that is maintain a strong and competent judiciary, then merit should be the watchword. Lobbying, favouritism and godfatherism should be discouraged and discarded, as they lead to the fall in the standard, and instead of enhancing the institution, they devalue and weaken it because of incompetence of the personnel.
"These practices negate the principles of justice and breeds indiscipline. I once read in one of our daily newspapers that lobbying is the norm in the USA and since we are the American system of democracy, it’s adoption here in order.
"I disagree because even if they do so, they consider merit first as the efficiency and the intellectual ability of an appointee is always paramount, as far as the judiciary is concerned.
"We should not think of only what we desire today, but what we will bequeath to the generation yet unborn."
Justice Mukhtar described the celebrant, who is the first female Judge from the North East and the fourth Female Justice of the Supreme Court as "an epitome of humility."
Other speakers at the book launch including former Head of State, General Yakubu Gown, (who was Chairman of the event), former Chief of Army Staff and Defence Minister, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma; Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State and traditional rulers, paid glowing tribute to the third female Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, who bowed out of the Supreme Court bench after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 for judges.
Others who poured encomium on the retired jurist at the event were legal luminaries and Justices of the Supreme Court, Prof. Yusufu Turaki, Prof. Babatunde Omotara, Justice James Ogebe (rtd); husband of the celebrant, Dr. Bamigboye Ogunbiyi and a former Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Abba Gana.
The book "Honey from the Rock" is a biography of Justice Ogunbiyi who was described as an incorruptible and quintessential judge whose judgments resolved issues and conflicts in the society.
The book written by Olugbenga Owa, captures vividly the various challenges and victories of Justice Ogunbiyi from her humble roots, upbringing and faith.