NJC recommends Umar Kogo for presidential appointment as CCT chairman
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Mainasara Ibrahim Umar Kogo for presidential appointment as the new chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Kogo had been locked in a chairmanship battle with Danladi Umar for the CCT chairmanship, which forced both the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass resolutions to remove the latter in November 2024.
The NJC’s recommendation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to procedurally resolve the impasse.
The NJC, at the end of the 109th Meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also recommended 21 candidates for appointment as judges.
READ ALSO: Abuja court strikes out suit challenging dismissal of ex-CCT Chairman Danladi Umar
A statement signed by the Deputy Director of Information of the NJC, Kemi Babalola Ogedengbe on Thursday said the recommendations followed a careful consideration of various public complaints made against shortlisted candidates for the various positions and a rigorous interview by an 8-Member Interview Committee of the Council in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for Appointment of Judicial Officers.
She said the appointment adhered to the new policy of publicising candidates and inviting public comments and observations decided at the council’s 108th Meeting held on 29 and 30 April 2025.
She said following the announcement, the council received a flurry of 86 public comments and complaints, and 73 of them were favourable, representing 85%, while 13 were adverse representing 15%.
Ogedengbe said nine judges in Imo were also recommended for compulsory retirement for conferring on themselves “the undue advantage of staying longer in service while the other judicial officer, Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge of Imo State High Court knowing fully well that he was number four in the hierarchy of Judges of the Imo State Judiciary and contrary to Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”
She said the council suspended further action in petitions against Hon. Justice A. M. Liman by Kenneth Okere (in a different case) and Hon. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court for being subjudice, while it blacklisted one Peter N. Ekemezie a serial petitioner from presenting further petitions before it.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
