President Muhammadu Buhari appears to be delaying approval for the appointment of Federal High Court and Court of Appeal judges recommended by the National Judicial Council because of ongoing background checks on the judges, a report has claimed.
The president was also said to have signed off on compulsory retirement for Justices Adeniyi Ademola and Segun Tokode as recommended by the council.
According to The Punch, citing an undisclosed source in the presidency, the president was doing due diligence to avoid appointment of corrupt judges, hence the delay.
“On the appointment of judges into the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal, the President is looking at that as recommended by the NJC.
“The NJC obviously has done due diligence on the appointed judges. There is no question about that. It is expected that they would have done their duty.
“But giving the President’s emphasis on the war against corruption, he himself will obviously need to do some checks that will assure him that no mistake has been made.
“It is not that the President has refused to approve it. He is looking into the recommendation made before pushing them forward because the Senate will be involved,” the source said.
The Department of State Services (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are believed to be involved in the checks.
According to the source, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN will soon make a formal announcement on the matter.
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