A legal practitioner, Prince E. Uwa Umoh, has called for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s judicial appointment process, warning that the integrity and independence of the judiciary remain at risk under the current system.
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In a detailed commentary released on Sunday, Umoh, who is the Lead Counsel at Brightstar Law Consult and a member of The Faithful of God (TFG), argued that the judiciary often regarded as the “last hope of the common man” is increasingly being shaped by political influence rather than merit.
He described the existing appointment structure as an “obstacle course laced with patronage,” where lobbying and quiet power dynamics have overshadowed objective evaluation of competence, experience, and character.
“On paper, the selection process looks neat and noble,” he said. “In practice, it rewards who you know more than what you know. Merit sometimes gives way to connections, and integrity often bows to political convenience.”
Under Nigeria’s constitution, appointments to state courts typically start at the Judicial Service Commissions before progressing to the National Judicial Council (NJC), which then recommends candidates to governors. For federal courts, the NJC forwards approved names to the President.
But Umoh maintains that each stage has become vulnerable to interference.
“The higher you climb in the judiciary, the narrower the gate becomes, and those who hold the keys often open it selectively,” he noted. “Brilliant lawyers and magistrates are sidelined, while the well-connected glide into silk robes with ease.”
He cautioned that when judges owe their rise to influence rather than merit, it compromises their independence long before they take the oath of office.
“A judge who owes his elevation to a political godfather may find it difficult to bite the hand that fed him,” he said, adding that this weakens the judiciary’s moral backbone and ultimately erodes public trust.
To address the longstanding concerns, Umoh advocated for the establishment of a mandatory Judicial Training and Qualification School.
Under the proposal, aspiring judges would undergo a rigorous two-year programme designed to evaluate legal knowledge, ethics, temperament, and analytical skills — all under the guidance of a credible national body free from political control.
He believes such a system would produce a standardised pool of certified, competent judicial officers and reduce nepotism in appointments.
The lawyer also urged the introduction of periodic performance and ethical audits for sitting judges, insisting that the judiciary cannot remain static while the law continues to evolve.
“The robe should not be a lifelong immunity from accountability,” he stated.
Umoh stressed that the credibility of the justice system is fundamental to national stability.
“When its credibility falters, the entire legal and political system trembles,” he said. “Justice is too sacred to be left in the hands of mediocrity or manipulated appointments.”
He concluded with a call for bold reforms, arguing that Nigeria must ensure that only the truly deserving occupy the bench.
“Until we restructure judicial appointments to champion transparency and merit, the temple of justice will continue to host both priests and pretenders,” he warned.
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