By Haruna Aliyu, Birnin Kebbi

The Human Rights and Social Justice Organisation has petitioned the National Judicial Service Commission and the Kebbi state government over the appointment of a new chief judge in the Kebbi.

The group wrote a petition dated 30th, October 2023, made available to newsmen in Kebbi state and copied the governor of Kebbi state, the Speaker of Kebbi House of Assembly and the State Judicial Service Council.

They contended that following the retirement of Justice Sulaiman Muhammad Ambursa as Kebbi state chief judge on December 25, 2022, and the subsequent appointment of Justice Umar Abubakar as acting chief judge, which took effect on December 25, 2022, and the renewal in acting capacity in accordance with 1999 constitution.

The human rights body noted that Justice Umar has served for nine months on an acting capacity and the council has not extended his acting capacity. So his tenure has expired on September 25, 2023.

Therefore, it deemed it fit to draw the attention of the Kebbi state government to as a matter of urgency appoint a new chief judge to avoid legal embarrassment.

Saeed Bin Usman, the National Chairman of the human rights body urged his lordship and the National Judicial Council to take immediate action to end the succession and seniority problem in Kebbi judiciary, believing that Governor Idris respects the judiciary, would therefore do the needful to restore public confidence in the judiciary.

Saeed alleged that there are some issues before the Judicial Council concerning Kebbi state, but maintained that pending the outcome of the investigations the need to address the acting problem in Kebbi state is critical to judicial service in the state.

Vanguard News