Imo State Attorney‑General and Commissioner for Justice Paul Obinatu has publicly challenged the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) authority to dictate the candidate the state should nominate for appointment as its substantive Chief Judge.
Obinatu said the NJC’s role is to recommend candidates for judicial appointments, but it cannot impose a specific nominee on a state. He questioned whether the council’s mandate extends to determining the individual who will be presented to the governor for appointment.
The dispute comes amid a broader debate over the balance of power between state governments and the federal judiciary. The NJC, established under the Constitution, oversees the appointment, promotion and discipline of judges, but its exact scope in relation to state‑level nominations remains a matter of interpretation.
While the AG has not provided a detailed legal argument, his remarks highlight concerns that the NJC may overstep its constitutional limits when it comes to the selection of a state’s chief judicial officer.
The statement was reported by Punch Nigeria, which has covered the issue of judicial appointments across the country.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>