The Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) has removed Amina Bello, wife of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, from the list of nominees for the Kogi State High Court judgeship.
In January, seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) filed a lawsuit against the NJC and Kogi State government, challenging Amina Bello’s nomination, SaharaReporters reported.
The plaintiffs, including Chief Yunus Ustaz Usman and J.S. Okutepa, argued that the selection process was unfair and violated constitutional principles.
Previously, 17 SANs from Kogi State demanded the suspension of new judicial appointments until proper criteria were met.
Their October 20, 2023 letter to the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi, highlighted the need for adequate facilities and a fair selection process.
The lawyers noted that the candidates for the Customary Court of Appeal were all from Kogi Central, excluding qualified individuals from Kogi East and Kogi West.
On Thursday, former NHRC Chairman Prof. Chidi Odinkalu announced on Twitter that the NJC had removed Amina Bello from the nominees list, describing it as a victory against the “genitalization” of the judiciary in Nigeria.
The NJC approved four new judges for the High Court: Joseph Sunday Ajesola, Ojoma Rachael Ojoma, Bahamas Kadiri, and Ezema Beatrice Ada.
The NJC further recommended five Kadis and a judge for the Customary Court of Appeal.
Odinkalu thanked Yunus Ustaz (SAN) and Jibrin (SAN) for their leadership, stating, “In a defeat for the forces of #genitalization of the judiciary in #Nigeria, @njcNig appears finally to have dropped Amina Yahaya Bello, wife of fugitive, @OfficialGYBKogi, from the list of nominees to be appointed as judges of the High Court of Kogi State.”
He listed the approved appointees and expressed gratitude for the efforts to ensure a fair judicial process.
