In a significant legal development, a Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, has issued an injunction preventing the Abia State Government from proceeding with the appointment of new judges. This ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by two enterprising female lawyers, Uzoamaka Ikonne and Victoria Nwokeukwu, who sought to secure judicial positions in the state.
The controversy traces back to 2022 when the Abia State Judicial Service Commission shortlisted candidates for judicial appointments. Those candidates underwent interviews conducted by the National Judicial Council on October 17, 2022. At the time, Okezie Ikpeazu served as the governor, but upon his departure from office on May 29, 2023, the dynamics shifted. New Governor Alex Otti took office on the same day and made the contentious decision to scrap the 2022 recruitment process, opting instead for a fresh round of appointments.
This abrupt pivot angered many individuals who had been shortlisted, prompting Ikonne and Nwokeukwu to challenge the state government's newly proposed process for selecting 10 judges. They sought an interim order from the court to preserve the status quo until their case could be fully adjudicated.
Justice S. B. Onu, after carefully reviewing the evidence and arguments presented by the plaintiffs’ counsel, Obinna Nkume, delivered the judgment. The court has mandated that all involved parties maintain the current status regarding judicial appointments while awaiting a thorough hearing on the plaintiffs’ motion. Furthermore, the court has required the plaintiffs to provide an undertaking concerning damages should the ruling be overturned in the future.
As this legal battle unfolds, the implications for the Abia State judiciary and the affected candidates remain to be seen, highlighting the complexities surrounding judicial appointments in the state. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
0 Comments