The Senate on Tuesday declined to confirm Justice
Olukayode Ariwoola as Justice of the Supreme Court on the grounds that
he was being investigated by the National Judicial Council.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said Ariwoola’s screening was suspended because he had issues to clear with the NJC.
Ariwoola was queried by the NJC following a petition by aggrieved parties in Ekiti State alleging that he and three others abused their powers and the Constitution in denying them the right to participate in the democratic governance of their state.
Following the committee’s recommendation, the Senate in plenary approved and confirmed Justice Mary Peter-Odili (South-East); and Justice Nwali Ngwuta as Supreme Court Justices.
The nomination of Justice Peter-Odili, however, raised heated debate on her state of origin and the region she represents.
While she is married to former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, and represented the South-South in the Court of Appeal, her nomination was to represent the South-East in the Supreme Court.
Leading the argument, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said it was unfair for the woman, who is from the South-South by marriage to reap from the South-East, which is her birth place.
“The situation where women will have access to appointments in their father’s side when they are married is undermining the institution of marriage. When people get married, they should remain in the place where they are married and nothing should come to separate them from the marriage,” he said.
Senator Patricia Akwashiki said although she believed that Peter Odili should be appointed Justice of the Supreme Court, she should move over to represent South-South as she did in the Court of Appeal and allow the South-East to have its slot.
By Oluwole Josiah, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said Ariwoola’s screening was suspended because he had issues to clear with the NJC.
Ariwoola was queried by the NJC following a petition by aggrieved parties in Ekiti State alleging that he and three others abused their powers and the Constitution in denying them the right to participate in the democratic governance of their state.
Following the committee’s recommendation, the Senate in plenary approved and confirmed Justice Mary Peter-Odili (South-East); and Justice Nwali Ngwuta as Supreme Court Justices.
The nomination of Justice Peter-Odili, however, raised heated debate on her state of origin and the region she represents.
While she is married to former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, and represented the South-South in the Court of Appeal, her nomination was to represent the South-East in the Supreme Court.
Leading the argument, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said it was unfair for the woman, who is from the South-South by marriage to reap from the South-East, which is her birth place.
“The situation where women will have access to appointments in their father’s side when they are married is undermining the institution of marriage. When people get married, they should remain in the place where they are married and nothing should come to separate them from the marriage,” he said.
Senator Patricia Akwashiki said although she believed that Peter Odili should be appointed Justice of the Supreme Court, she should move over to represent South-South as she did in the Court of Appeal and allow the South-East to have its slot.
By Oluwole Josiah, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment