I DON’T HAVE POWERS TO UNILATERALLY APPOINT JUDGES, SAYS UDUAGHAN

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that the appointment of judges rested largely on set guidelines, processes and approval of the National Judiciary Council (NJC) with little inputs from the Executive.

Governor Uduaghan who stated this Friday in Asaba
when he inaugurated three part-time members of the State Judicial Commission said “that only those who meet the ten years post-qualification guideline and approved by the Nigerian Judiciary Council will be appointed judges. I have little input on who can be appointed, as the NJC must screen and approve the people to be appointed. I cannot unilaterally appoint anybody as a judge”.

He charged the newly inaugurated members of the State Judicial Commission, Messsrs. Patrick Oganwu, Peter Wanogho, and Francis Omatseye to ensure quality and selfless service at all time in  the discharge of their duties  stressing that “they should help  chart a robust Judicial Service Commission capable of producing judicial officers and staff that will offer to the public transparent and unimpeachable justice”.

While reaffirming government’s support for the Commission and the state judiciary in the discharge of their respective functions. Governor Uduaghan assured them of government’s readiness to meet their needs within the limits of available resources.

He commended the members of the Commission for their invaluable services and enjoined the new members to improve on the achievements on the ground.

Barr. Patrick Oganwu, who responded on behalf of the newly inaugurated members, commended Governor Uduaghan for the massive infrastructure development in the Judiciary in the last two years and promised the readiness of the members to contribute their quota to the development of the Judiciary in the state.

While appealing for cooperation of the Executive arm in tackling the administrative challenges in the judiciary, Barr. Oganwu called for continuous manpower development of judiciary officials in the state to enable them meet the challenges of the judiciary.