14th August, 2023
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has said a letter circulating online indicating that governors have powers to determine seniority of judges in their state is fake.
There were insinuations that the NJC had surrendered its statutory powers and functions on judges’ appointments and promotions to state governors as the letter purportedly written by the judicial body to Kebbi State Chief Judge was circulating online.
However, the NJC disowned the letter addressed to the Chief Judge of Kebbi State and purportedly signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola
The fake letter titled ‘Order of Seniority of Judges of the High Court of Kebbi state and recommendation of Justice Umar Abubakar as the substantive Chief Judge of Kebbi state’ addressed to the Chief Judge stated “that under section 10 of the existing law of Kebbi state 1996, His Excellency, the Governor, has the power to determine Seniority of Judges and the National Judicial Council has no power to override or reverse the decision of His Excellency”.
The NJC, In a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Information, Soji Oye, said that there was no iota of truth whatsoever in the fake letter.
NJC therefore advised the general public to discountenance the letter and its content.
It added that it has reported the forgery to the relevant security agencies with a view to investigate and bring to book whoever is behind this dastardly act.