The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Human Rights and Social Justice Organization have jointly accused the Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Hon. Justice Umar Abubakar, of forging documents to secure his confirmation as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.
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According to a prnigeria report, the Human Rights and Social Justice Organization, a prominent civil society body, took a proactive step by submitting a formal petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola.
The petition, dated July 20, 2023, bears the title “PETITION AGAINST THE ACTING CHIEF JUDGE OF KEBBI STATE, HON. JUSTICE UMAR ABUBAKAR FOR FABRICATING DOCUMENTS IN DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO SECURE CONFIRMATION FOR THE OFFICE OF A CHIEF JUDGE, KEBBI STATE OF NIGERIA,” and is signed by Saeed Bin Usman, the organization’s National Chairman.
Similarly, NANS lodged a petition on Wednesday with Justice Ariwoola, titled “COMPLAINT AGAINST THE ACTING CHIEF JUDGE OF KEBBI STATE, HON. JUSTICE UMAR ABUBAKAR FOR FABRICATING DOCUMENTS IN DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO SECURE CONFIRMATION FOR THE OFFICE OF A CHIEF JUDGE, KEBBI STATE OF NIGERIA.”
The NANS petition, bearing the signature of Comrade Usman Kankiya, the union’s National Secretary General, outlines a series of concerns regarding the alleged actions of Justice Umar Abubakar and their potential consequences on the independence of the judiciary.
The contentious issue revolves around the seniority dispute between Justice Umar Abubakar and Justice Abbas Ahman within the Kebbi State High Court. The CSO and students’ body suggest that these developments have raised serious questions about the integrity of the judiciary’s independence.
The two groups assert that their petitions aim to bring these concerns to the attention of Justice Ariwoola and prevent a potential constitutional crisis in the Kebbi State High Court.
They highlight the implications for the reputation and credibility of key judicial institutions, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s office and the National Judicial Council.
The petitions describe a situation where documents have allegedly been fabricated to manipulate the seniority order of judges.
This action is claimed to have been undertaken by Justice Umar Abubakar, who purportedly presented forged documents to support his position. The groups maintain that these alleged actions undermine the established principles of judicial appointments and seniority determination.
In response, NANS and the Human Rights and Social Justice Organization call for a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure the integrity of the judiciary and uphold democratic values.
They urge Chief Justice Ariwoola to intervene and address the situation promptly to prevent potential damage to the judicial system and its reputation in Nigeria.
It’s worth noting that Justice Umar Abubakar assumed the role of acting CJ after being sworn in by Governor Atiku Bagudu on Saturday, December 25, 2022, in the state capital of Birnin Kebbi. However, his confirmation as the Substantive Chief Judge of Kebbi State has yet to be finalized since that time.
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