The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is currently facing allegations of nepotism and cronyism.
It has been reported that he has nominated his daughter, Justice Victoria Oluwakemi, for a judicial position in the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
This is not the first time the CJN has been accused of using his influence to secure appointments for his family members within the judiciary.
Documents obtained by the Peoples Gazette, as well as information from judiciary sources, confirm the nomination of Justice Victoria Oluwakemi.
Previously, the CJN faced criticism for securing a judgeship for his son, Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr, in the Federal High Court.
The CJN’s family has a reported pattern of appointments. For example, his younger brother, Adebayo Ariwoola, is the auditor of the National Judicial Council, and his nephew, Lateef Ganiyu, recently got promoted to the Court of Appeal.
This has raised concerns about favoritism, as there are several other relatives holding positions in the judiciary bureaucracy.
The CJN’s daughter was nominated after receiving a letter from the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Husseini Baba-Yusuf. The letter informed him about the 12 available positions in the court.
In response, Baba-Yusuf requested nominations from the CJN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau.
The states listed for nominations were Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara.
However, there were discrepancies because Oyo already had two judges in the FCT High Court, and the state was given an extra slot to accommodate the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s (CJN) daughter.
Critics argue that this nomination raises doubts about judicial independence and fair representation, as the CJN has been accused of using his position to benefit his relatives.
The reported nomination of a junior magistrate, Justice Victoria Oluwakemi, who has limited experience, further adds to the concerns of judiciary workers and observers.
