The Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is charged with allegedly obstructing the appointment of five High Court judges who have already been screened and approved by the National Judicial Council, according to the Warri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which has expressed concern about the state’s continuing judge shortage.
This was contained in a statement dated Wednesday, February 1, 2023, issued by the NBA, Warri Branch at the end of the association’s monthly general meeting, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Friday.
The statement signed by the Branch Chairman, Chief Oghenero Okoro, and the Secretary, S.G. Ediagbonuvie, respectively, alleged that Okowa had failed to make available the official vehicles of the judges to be appointed, which is a sine qua non for the said appointment by NJC.
The association lamented that the development was coming at a time when there was shortage of judges in the state, with many of the High Courts in the state having no presiding judges.