The National Judicial Council has disclosed that 34 nominees, including a Chief Superintendent of Police, failed the judges’ appointment integrity test conducted by the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
The Council made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, explaining that although 62 applicants passed the Computer-Based Test conducted by the Federal High Court in Abuja, only 28 nominees eventually emerged successful after the integrity screening.
According to the NJC, the 62 candidates who passed the CBT were forwarded to the FJSC for further assessment in line with the integrity policy recently introduced by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Recall that Kekere-Ekun, upon assuming office, introduced a public-feedback-based integrity test for judicial appointments, allowing members of the public to submit petitions or comments on shortlisted nominees.
The Council stated, “Sixty-two applicants passed the CBT conducted by the Federal High Court. Their names were forwarded to the FJSC.
“In line with the policy introduced by the CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the FJSC published the names of the 62 nominees to invite public feedback on their integrity, reputation and suitability for judicial appointment.
“The publication was made on September 17, 2025.”One of the petitions received during the public feedback process, and sighted by newsmen, accused a serving CSP of collecting bribes and lacking the requisite integrity to be appointed as a judge.
The petition, written by a legal practitioner on behalf of a client, alleged that the CSP had a reputation for soliciting bribes and therefore failed the integrity and reputation requirements for judicial appointment.
Part of the petition read, “We are legal representatives to Alhaji Abubakar Yahaya (hereinafter referred to as our client), on whose instruction we write. Our client’s attention has been drawn to the publication by the Commission requesting public comments on the integrity, reputation and suitability of nominees for appointment to the Federal High Court bench.”
The petitioners alleged that the CSP, while serving as Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Section at Zone 7 Police Command, Abuja, was known as “a public officer whose integrity is totally compromised by her love for taking bribes.”
They narrated that the incident occurred on January 16, 2025, when their client was allegedly arrested without a warrant by officers from Zone 7 Police Command following a court enforcement exercise at his residence.
According to the petition, the CSP allegedly refused to grant bail until the sum of N1 million was paid through a proxy’s account, who is a friend to the CSP, after which the client was released.
The petitioners further claimed that the matter was reported to the Police Service Commission, which constituted a panel of inquiry to investigate the allegation. They alleged that the money was traced to the CSP’s account during the investigation, concluding that her conduct demonstrated a lack of integrity and rendered her unsuitable for judicial appointment.
The petitioners commended the judiciary for the integrity screening process, noting that it was a necessary step to restore public confidence in the justice system.
They urged the NJC to reject the CSP’s nomination, stating, “She is a corrupt police officer and, if appointed, would only become a corrupt judicial officer.”
Meanwhile, the NJC, further in its statement, said, at the end of the consideration of public feedback, FJSC ended with just 28 names forwarded to the Council, with 34 nominees failing the integrity test”.
Meanwhile, the Council’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, confirmed that the NJC is scheduled to meet on January 13 and 14 to deliberate on issues arising from the selection process.
She said the 28 shortlisted nominees would face the Council’s interview panel ahead of the meeting.
Ogedengbe added that the Council remained resolute in maintaining high standards, stressing that transparency and judicial integrity remain top priorities under the administration of Chief Justice Kekere-Ekun.
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