ABUJA: Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Barr.Henry Idahagbon, has said that reviewing the process of judicial appointments in Nigeria will help strengthen the sector.
Idahagbon, now the Federal Commissioner representing Edo, Ekiti, and Ondo States at the Federal Civil Service Commission, made the remarks during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He stressed that “a country gets the kind of judiciary it deserves,” noting that judges are Nigerians and that the judiciary cannot be more developed than the nation itself.
“Judicial involvement is commensurate with our political engagement. Kudos to President Bola Tinubu for enhancing judicial independence. The judiciary now receives its allocation directly, ensuring financial independence,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted ongoing reforms, pointing out that 38 judges were recently considered for appointment to federal courts, with many disqualified for failing integrity tests.
Speaking on election petitions, Idahagbon said: “It is possible to overturn declared winners if electoral laws are not followed. Whether a person is sworn in or not is secondary.”
He acknowledged that delays in the judicial process are partly due to manual record-keeping but noted that courts are beginning to adopt verbatim recorders.
He also said: “Judicial processes are inherently slow worldwide because they involve specialised professions and careful consideration of evidence.”
Idahagbon added that in many developed countries, fair and transparent elections reduce the need for election petitions.
