Suit against A/Court judges appointments set for June 25

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

A Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed June 25, for judgment in a suit seeking to stop the appointment of 18 new Justices for the Court of Appeal.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date, yesterday,after parties in the matter adopted their final arguments.
Plaintiff, Igbo socio-cultural group, the Incorporated Trustees of Alaigbo Development Foundation, is praying the court to stop the appointment of the appellate court Justices on the ground that the South East region had been marginalised in the selection.
The group sought a court order compelling the defendants to replace the three vacancies in the South East slots by three new justices from the zone.
Adopting their final arguments through their counsel, Mr Max Ozoaka, reiterated that the selection of the 18 Justices done by the National Judicial Council (NJC) violated the provisions of the 1999 Constitution through lopsidedness in the nomination.
Specifically, the group alleged that the Principle of Federal Character was breached in the way and manner the Appeal Court justices were nominated and subsequently prayed the judge to stop the appointment.
However, the NJC (1st respondent), represented by Mr Paul Usoro, SAN, while arguing his preliminary objection in the matter prayed Justice Ekwo to decline jurisdiction in the matter on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked locus standi to institute the case.
Usoro told the court that the plaintiff was an Igbo socio-cultural organisation and that its aims and objectives did not include instituting cases of public interest.
The NJC further objected to the case on the grounds that photocopy of certificates of incorporation of the group certified by a court registrar was tendered, adding that only officials of the Corporate Affairs Commission are empowered to certify such documents and urge the court to dismiss the case.
In his own argument, counsel to the 2nd and 3rd respondents (Federal Judicial Service Commission and President, Court of Appeal) Mr Yakubu Maikyau SAN also urged the court to refuse to entertain the matter on the grounds that Section 20 of the Comapanies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) did not permit the group to embark on instituting such an action.
The Igbo socio-cultural group, had in its suit asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop the appointment of justices of the Court of Appeal over an alleged lopsidedness of the exercise.
The group; urged Justice Ekwo to restrain the defendants from continuing the exercise pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
After listening to the augment of both sides, Justice Ekwo adjourned till June 25, for judgement.