The Public Notification of JSC: An Open Letter To Gov. Hope Uzodimma By Prince Bob Njemanze

I have been compelled to bring to the public domain the privileged issues of particular concern about the state judiciary as it affects the appointment of Imo state substantive Chief Judge.

It would be most unfortunate if I sit back and watch such a sensitive system being rubbished by a cabal. I may be seen as crying more than the bereaved but I AM INVOLVED.

The situation has subjected me to explanations that should ordinarily be considered as necessary and for the fact that I cannot stand aloof, your Excellency, to see all your wonderful Infrastructure be messed by a trivial action that dangerously arose from both misinformation and disinformation for which you have no personal benefit.

Governor Hope Uzodimma

In the initial official communication of the Imo Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri the JSC had invited comments on the suitability of four eminent judicial officers namely Hon. Justice I.O Agugua, the Acting Chief Judge; Hon. Justice C.A. Ononeze -Madu; Hon. Justice E.O. Agada and Hon. Justice I.C. Azuama which was in the order of Judicial seniority.

After the comments received from the NBA, Owerri and the other branches of it in Imo, the commission surprisingly made a ‘U- turn’ to present only two names, Hon. Justice C.A. Ononeze- Madu and Hon. Justice E.O. Agada for the comments of members of the public.

Now, one may ask, did the JSC consider the two aforestated names more suitable than the current acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua?
This, naturally calls for clearer explanations to the public and also to the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC), the bar and bench and the institute of Justice.

With regard to the provisions of the constitution as amended, it is thus clearly stated that for the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge of the state, section 271(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. The commission shall have power to advise the NJC on the suitable persons for nomination to the office of the Chief Judge of the state.

It is now an open secret which has formed allegations that a senior lawyer who claimed to be acting for the executive was made to share envelopes containing $5,000 to actualize their ploys and that some chairmen of the bar associations were alleged to have been either influenced, appreciated or coerced with the envelopes.

There is no iota of doubt that the present acting Chief Judge is the most senior among the judges in Imo high courts and the most suitable in all ramifications.

There will be need for you to intervene as the stories making the rounds would be too detrimental on the image of the state under your watch.

I am very much worried because of the closeness of our relationship which many people interprete as
fraternity.

Another worrying aspect is that the Attorney- General of the state sat in the meeting where the decision to submit two names was taken as against the earlier decision to submit four eminent judges of the state high courts.

This is part of the reason as well as my worry about the state police. As good as the idea could be, one would express fear about the victims of falsehood and misuse of power.

Going contrary to the due process in the Judicial sector in our state would no doubt pose a threat to the administration and this would have its endless consequences.

I have had calls to intervene in the false accusations against Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua and the fact that she had been appointed twice as the acting Chief Judge in line with seniority and suitability would be sufficient to spark controversies that would trail her non- inclusion on the list made public by the state Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Let us pray we don’t fall victim to the Chief Sheriff as the man behind the mafia like in the 1986 movie series…The eyes of the Tiger.

We await your intervention to put the process back to the right track.

Njemanze

From
Prince Bob Njemanze,
An elder Statesman.