Former NBA President Accuses Nigerian Governors of Reducing Chief Judges to Beggars”
In a startling revelation at the International Bar Association (IBA) Conference in Paris, former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Olumide Akpata asserted that some state Chief Judges in Nigeria have been reduced to begging for essential resources from their respective governors.
Akpata, highlighted the alarming practice where Chief Judges kneel before governors, pleading for funds, official vehicles, and accommodations. He expressed concern over the lack of financial autonomy, claiming that it has led to the impoverishment of judges, turning themselves into tools manipulated by political interests.
During his address, Akpata asserted that the current state of the Nigerian judiciary raises questions about the selection process employed by the National Judicial Council (NJC). He argued that the deliberate attempt by the political class to influence the judiciary is compromising the rule of law in Nigeria, leading to judges who may not be fit for their roles.
Furthermore, Akpata raised issues surrounding the lifestyle of some judges, alleging that some live beyond their legitimate means, sending their children to prestigious institutions like Cambridge, Yale, and Harvard.
The former NBA President concluded by emphasizing the need for a transparent and unbiased judicial selection process to safeguard the independence and integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria.