National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the appointment of three High Court Judges into the services of the Niger State Judiciary.

The three appointed judges are two public Legal Practitioners and a sitting magistrate in the service of the state Judiciary.

The appointment of the High Court Judges which was based on seniority in the bench or called to bar is now based on quota system.

The Niger State Judiciary had earlier requested for the appointment of Judges following the vacuum created as a result of the retirement of some judges from the service.

A total of six applications were received for the vacant positions, among those that applied were serving magistrates and private legal practitioners.

The applicants were screened by the State Command of the Department of Security Services (DSS) after which the screened applicants’ names were forwarded to the National Judicial Council

Newsline gathered that three out of the six applicants were recommended and shortlisted by the (NJC) for the appointment. It was further gathered that the slots cut across the three geopolitical zones of the state.

Two of the slots were however given to Zone C, while Zone A got one, leaving zone B with no slot.

The three appointed Judges were; Barrister Ahmed Danladi Badeggi, a Principal State Counsel in the State Ministry of Justice, from Zone A, Barrister Salisu Majidadi, Secretary Niger State Judiciary Service Commission (NJSC), from Kontagora, and Binta Bawa Rijau, a sitting Magistrate also from Kontagora.

Findings by Newsline indicated that with the appointment of the two Judges from Zone C, four High Court Judges now come from that zone, while zone A also has four High Court Judges with the appointment of Barrister Ahmed Danladi Badeggi.

Fuurther investigation revealed that even with the appointment of the three judges, some courts still exist without substantive presiding judges.

Two new High Courts have been constructed in Kutigi and Rijau now awaiting commissioning.

The two High courts, when commissioned, the services of more judges to preside over them would be required as the appointment of the three judges will not be enough for the state.

Source: http://www.newsline.org.ng/