Adamawa Assembly rejects Chief Judge nominee

Lawmakers say judge performed below expectation

The National Judicial Council’s, nominee for substantive Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Ishaya Banu, has been rejected by the State House of Assembly.

The House rejected the nominee at its Monday plenary session after a heated debate.

The session was presided over by the Speaker, Ahmadu Fintiri, who put the matter to voice vote with majority voting against the NJC recommendation.

The members, who supported the recommendation, argued that Mr. Banu as the most senior judge in the state should be considered based on seniority as recommended by NJC.

But those against argued that seniority was not enough as there was evidence from the Adamawa Judicial Service Commission showing that Mr. Banu’s performance as a judge was below expectation.

“We cannot compromise productivity for seniority,” Ishaq Bala (PDP-Yola North) one of those who argued against the nominee, said.

Those against the nominee also cited his health and made case for the present Acting Chief Judge of the state, Nathan Musa, who they said is a better hand in view of his current effort to transform the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers approved the appointment of Mahmoud Mohammed as Grand Khadi of the state Shariah Court of Appeal.