Federal Judicial Service contemplates Mukthar’s successor

By Nwokolo Geoffrey Netochukwu

The Federal Judicial Service met for six hours yesterday in a bid to
consider and appoint a successor to the Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Justice Aloma Mukthar, whose tenure ends next month.

Although the details of the meeting, which presided over by the CJN,
was not made public, it was learnt that the meeting was briefed on the
possible candidates to take over from her in November this year. The
commission, it was learnt, met early to begin the process of
appointing a successor to the CJN, since she had made it clear to all
that she did not want any extension of tenure. It was also gathered
that the names of three senior Supreme Court judges had been tabled
before the commission for consideration.

Vanguard learnt that the three judges, whose names are likely to be
forwarded by the FJSC to the National Judicial Council for
consideration, are: Justices Mahmud Mohammed, Walter Onnoghen and
Tanko Ibrahim. Although the three names were being considered by both
the FJSC, only one of them is likely to succeed Mukthar in November
after consideration and approval by the NJC and subsequent appointment
by the President. The CJN, who moved into the office about two years
ago, has effected many reforms and checkmated corruption in the
judiciary even though she has not been able to eliminate the
cankerworm. She has largely been feared by top government officials,
who have found it impossible to get access to her since her
appointment.
Mukthar is said to have made it very difficult for powerful Nigerians
to meet her and discuss any issue relating to court matters, thereby
cutting them off from influencing major legal decisions, a development
that has made her unpopular among them but highly preferred by
Nigerians.