A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has issued an order restraining the Abia State Government and its agents from initiating a new process for the appointment of judges in the state. This ruling followed an application by two litigants who questioned the state government’s attempt to begin a fresh process for appointing 10 new judges.
In 2022, the Abia State Judicial Service Commission shortlisted candidates for judicial appointments. These candidates underwent interviews on October 17, 2022, conducted by the National Judicial Council, and were also screened by the Department of State Security (DSS). They were awaiting the official announcement of their appointment as judges when the process was stalled due to a lawsuit.
The state government later abandoned the 2022 process and launched a new recruitment effort, which upset the 2022 shortlisted candidates. Uzoamaka Uche Ikonne and Victoria Okey Nwokeukwu, representing themselves and the other shortlisted candidates, filed a suit against the Abia State Judicial Service Commission, the Chief Judge of Abia, the Attorney General, and eight other defendants.
The plaintiffs sought an interim order from the court to maintain the status quo until the motion for an interlocutory injunction could be heard. They also requested any further orders the court deemed appropriate.
After reviewing the affidavit of urgency submitted by the first plaintiff, Uzoamaka Uche Ikonne, and the submissions from the plaintiffs’ counsel, Obinna Nkume, the court, presided over by Justice S. B. Onu, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
Additionally, the court required the plaintiffs to provide an undertaking as to damages if the order was found to be unjustified.
Following the court’s ruling, U. U. Amadi, a concerned citizen of Abia State, remarked that unless the appointment process for judges is shielded from executive interference, the administration of justice in the state would remain at risk.
