Nyako accused of stalling on CJ’s appointment

The petitioner, Abdullahi Isa, said since June 2011 when the then Chief Justice Bamare Bansi retired from service, the governor has been appointing series of acting CJs instead of recommending the most senior judge to be appointed to the office.Adamawa has had four acting CJs since the retirement of Justice Bansi in 2011. Justice Bathimawus […]

The petitioner, Abdullahi Isa, said since June 2011 when the then Chief Justice Bamare Bansi retired from service, the governor has been appointing series of acting CJs instead of recommending the most senior judge to be appointed to the office.
Adamawa has had four acting CJs since the retirement of Justice Bansi in 2011. Justice Bathimawus Popo Lawi first served for three months and another three months until his death.
Then Justice Ishaya Banu who was second in hierarchy acted for three months, while Justice Bobboi Umar served for three months which was extended by another three months. Justice Nathan Musa was then appointed on December 30, 2012 for an initial period of three months and has been the acting CJ since then.
Daily Trust learnt that the most senior high court judge in the state has had some misunderstanding with Nyako and this was why the governor is more comfortable with acting CJ Nathan Musa.
In his reaction to the petition, Adamawa State Attorney General Ibrahim Tahir told Daily Trust in Yola that already the state judicial service commission has recommended to the National Judiciary Council to appoint Justice Nathan Musa as substantive CJ.
On long-running tenures of acting CJs, Tahir blamed ex-CJ Bansi, who he said failed to prepare ground for the emergence of his successor by remaining in office till the last day instead of going on terminal leave three months ahead.
“Bansi did not prepare anything to allow succession by the most senior. On his last day, he remained in the office till 6 pm, immediately he vacated the office we swore in Justice Lawi,” he said.
“Totally he spent 20 years as CJ yet he remained in the office till 6 pm on his last day, instead of taking terminal leave three months to his exit so as to allow the most senior to succeed him. After his exit the JSC found it necessary, in view of the bad shape of the judiciary, to allow the three most senior judges to act.”