15 JOSTLE FOR JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT IN LAGOS

For some time now, the Lagos State Judiciary has been trying to employ more high court judges. Around May 2012, it was widely believed by many observers of the judiciary that, the immediate past administration of the judiciary under Chief Judge Inumidun Akande would swear in a new set of judges before his Lordship bowed out of service in June 2012.

However the expectation failed, even though the judicial recruitment exercise had advanced greatly, at the time of Justice Akande’s exit. With a new helmswoman in charge of the Lagos judiciary, in the person of Honourable Justice Ayo Phillips, the desire to employ more Judges got a renewed fillip.

The Squib authoritatively learnt that hardly had the word gone out that the judiciary was recruiting than applicants in their dozens signified their interest. Thus about a fortnight ago, when the Judicial Service Commission, held an examination for judicial applicants, no less than 60 persons turned up for the exercise.

However at the end of the day only the following fifteen legal practitioners were found possibly appointable. They are:

Ogunsanya Sedoten Sosi (Mrs.)                           -        Director (MOJ)

Ogala Oyindamola Adesola (Mrs.)             -        Chief Magistrate I

Solebo Serifat Oloruntoyin (Ms.)               -        Chief Magistrate II

Williams Fazi Kareem Olusegun                 -        Private Practitioner

Ipaye-Nwachukwu Arike Mutiat (Mrs.)      -       Chief Magistrate II

Animahun Wasiu                                        -        Private Practitioner

Bankole-Oki Folashade Janet (Ms.)            -        Private Practitioner

Savage Michael Akintunde                         -        Private Practitioner

Lawal Abdulfattah Olawale                        -        Private Practitioner

Olukolu Rasil Oluyomi                               -        Private Practitioner/Lecturer

Isaac Akintunde Olufemi                                      -        Chief Magistrate (Admin)

Safari Ganiu Ali                                          -        Chief Registrar

Oke Senami Theodora (Mrs.)                      -        Chief State Counsel (MOJ)

Bashua Jubril Abisoye                                -        Private Practitioner

Bajulaiye Adegboyega Oyewole                 -        Deputy Director (MOJ)

A careful perusal of the list shows the following realities:

All but one of the shortlisted applicants are Lagosians.

While the ladies are 6, the gentle men are 9.

The Public Bar has the least number of candidates (3) while the Private Bar has the highest (7). Interestingly only one of the seven is a lady.

Coincidentally or otherwise, there is about a 50-50 Christian – Muslim parity in the number of applicants shortlisted.

Now that the short-list of preferred candidates is out, observers say the race is now at its peak and most delicate, as only five or six out of the fifteen candidates on the short-list would eventually be picked for the certainly juicy and respectable appointments.

Many observers contend that the very best of the candidates may lose out of the hot race because at this stage of the competition, merit has ceased to be a strong propelling factor unlike influence and power of behind-the-door lobby a.k.a “long leg” or “man –know-man.”