By Friday Idachaba
Retiring Kogi High Court Judge, Justice Olutimehin Samuel Obayomi has called for a return to the age long tradition of using merit, competences and good character as basis for appointments into the Judiciary.
Justice Obayomi made the call at a valedictory Court Session in his honour at retirement as Judge of Kogi State High Court in Lokoja.
He said that the quality of any Bench is a function of the quality of those appointed to operate it adding that it appeared that there have been a great departure from the recruitment processes in the past compared to what is currently happening.
He said that at every opportunity, stakeholders in the justice sector had decried the mode of appointment of persons to the Courts of Records.
“I wish to admonish that appointment to the higher Bench should be based on sound learning, good and unquestionable character and not as a political, ethnic or religious patronage.
“We should return to the age long tradition of using competence and good character among others as basis for appointments.
“The present trend of classifying some candidates as “anointed” or “preferred” is primitive in the 21st century. The yardstick that should make a candidate preferred or anointed should be his or her worth in all ramifications.
“I must say in all honesty that because a person is a Chief Magistrate/Magistrate/Legal Officer should not be the only reason for his or her appointment.
“Such a person must merit it. The appointment process must be transparent, open and competitive. As the Solicitor-General, I competed with others both at the private, public Bar and Magistracy”. he said.
Justice Obayomi also appealed State Executive governors to make implementation of financial autonomy for the Judiciary, a project that must not fail even as it is a constitutional requirement.
He urged the state governors not to entertain any fears in granting financial autonomy to the Judiciary as provided for in the Constitution as it would reduce the frequency of financial requests and demands on the government.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Majebi in his speech, said a judge was nothing in the absence of an independence of mind and judgement described Justice Obayomi as a firm but polite, penetrating but courteous and unfailing judge.
Majebi said the retiring judge over the years, exhibited great attributes including integrity, forthrightness, intelligence, hard work, intuition, humility, honesty of purpose, and dedication to duty and the work of God.
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branches in Kogi represented by Ibrahim Alhassan Esq. of Lokoja branch reiterated the the call for establishment of a division of Court of Appeal in Kogi.
Alhassan averred the 75 per cent of cases being handled by the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court were from Kogi and appealed to Kogi State government to help keep it’s side the bargain in providing for the accommodation and office complex for the court.
There were goodwill messages from Governor Yahaya Bello who was represented by the SSG, dr Folashade Arike Ayoade, Body of Senior Advocates, his brother Judges among others.
Platinum retired from service today in line with the compelling provision of section 291 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which makes it mandatory for every Judicial Officer at the High Court or Court of coordinate jurisdiction to retire on attaining the age of sixty five (65) years. (Ends)