A POLITICAL group in Ekiti State, The Ekiti Patriots has urged the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to open the appointment of the new Chief Judge of the State to competition, adding that; “that ably qualified members of the Bench that are Ekiti sons and daughters should be allowed to apply and be considered for the job.”
In a letter dated February 15, 2012 and delivered at the Governor’s office on February 17, 2012, copy of which was made available to our reporter, TEP also said it was illegal for the Acting Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola to remain in office, having exceeded the mandatory six months as Acting CJ.
The letter signed by the Chief Convener, Comrade Ebenezer Olaleye and copied to the National Judicial Council (NJC) read; “We write to draw your attention to the illegality of the continuous stay in office as the Acting Chief Judge of Ekiti State by Justice Ayodeji Daramola and the need for the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge (CJ) of the state.
“In line with Section 271 (4) of the 1999 Constitution, Justice Ayodeji Simeon Daramola was first appointed as the Acting Chief Judge of Ekiti State sometime in December, 2010.
“Judging from the above, and in accordance with Section (5) of the 1999 Constitution, Justice Daramola ought to have stopped acting as the Chief Judge of Ekiti State by the end of February, 2011, or if reappointed, he should cease from being the Acting Chief Judge of
Ekiti State since June, 2011.
“Therefore, in accordance with the provision of Section 271 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is our belief that the process of appointing a substantive CJ should commence now.
“Consequent upon the above and in view of the judicial reform agenda of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, we wish to urge that the appointment of a substantive CJ of Ekiti State is made competitive so as to allow for the emergence of the best
candidate.
“It is our position that the appointment should be thrown open so that ably qualified Ekiti sons and daughters can apply and be considered for the job.
“It is our demand that a panel of retired eminent jurists is set up to handle the selection of candidates to be sent to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for consideration.”