A report that is currently being circulated on social media and the traditional media is being disowned by the National Judicial Council (NJC). It claims that 34 lawyers failed an integrity test and were consequently removed from consideration for appointments as judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
The Secretary of the NJC, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, stated in a press release that the report was erroneous and unreliable, and that it did not accurately reflect the circumstances as they occurred at the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) level.
For the avoidance of doubt, the National Judicial Council has yet to make a decision or take any action in relation to the candidates referred to in the report.
The Council added that while a few candidates were in fact removed from the FJSC process based on negative findings made by the Commission, many others did not advance because they failed to meet the required qualifying score to be admitted to the NJC interview stage.
The Council made a point of highlighting the fact that, in contrast to the media reports, there is no stand-alone or newly developed “integrity test” whose failure automatically automatically disqualifies candidates in large numbers.
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It states that interviews conducted in strict accordance with established guidelines are still conducted as part of the judicial appointment process, which is merit-driven, multi-layered, and includes written examinations, performance benchmarks, background checks, and other requirements.
The Council is concerned that inaccurate and speculative information may be made public and unfairly damage candidates’ reputations if they are chosen in good faith.
The NJC has begun internal investigations to find the source of the unauthorized press statement and will take appropriate steps to safeguard the integrity and credibility of its procedures in light of the above.
Source: Channels TV
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