President of the Court of Appeal Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem has invited lawyers to apply to become justices of the appellate court.

Justice Dongban-Mensem asked the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to recommend suitably qualified persons, for consideration for appointment to the Court of Appeal bench.

They will form part of the pool of applicants to fill 16 present and imminent vacancies on the Court of Appeal.

NBA President Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, made the disclosure in a statement seen by The Nation on Sunday, issued by NBA National Publicity Secretary, Lawal Habeeb Akorede.

The slots are available for the six geopolitical zones of Northeast, SouthSouth, Southeast, Southwest Northcentral and North West.

Qualified members of the NBA were urged to submit their applications on or before Wednesday, October 5, 2022.

Maikyau said: “By a letter dated 28 September 2022 and received on 30 September 2022, the Honourable, the President of the Court of Appeal has requested the Nigerian Bar Association to recommend suitably qualified persons, for consideration for appointment to the Court of Appeal bench, to fill the present and imminent vacancies.

“The slots available for nomination are: (a) Two (2) slots for the North-Central geo-political zone

“(b) Three (3) slots for the North-East geo-political zone

“© Five (5) slots for the North-West geo-political zone

“(d) Three (3) slots for the South-East geo-political zone

“€ Two (2) slots for the South-West geo-political zone

“(f) One (1) slot for the South-South geo-political zone.”

He urged NBA members “who are suitably qualified and are interested in applying for appointment to the Court of Appeal Bench”, to submit an expression of interest to the association’s National Secretariat on or before October 5, 2022.

Their letter should be addressed to “The President, Nigerian Bar Association c/o Ayodeji Oni, Esq., Head, Legal Services Department Nigerian Bar Association, National Secretariat Plot 1101 Cadastral Zone A00, Central Business District, Abuja.”

Maikyau explained that all expressions of interest letters should include eight things.

They are: “A copy of the applicant’s Curriculum Vitae, a copy of the applicant’s Call to Bar Certificate, Evidence of payment of Bar Practicing Fees (BPF) as and when due, for the past 10 years, Evidence of payment of NBA Branch Dues as and when due, for the past 10 years. Evidence of attendance at Conferences of the NBA and Evidence of membership of Sections or For a of the NBA.”

Others are: “For legal practitioners in private practice, certified true copies of at least five judgments delivered in contested cases conducted by the applicant in the five years preceding 2022,

“A letter of good standing from the Chairman of the applicant’s Branch confirming that he or she possesses the qualities set out in Rule 4(4)(1)(a), (b) and (d) of the National Judicial Council Guidelines for the Appointment of Judicial Officers for Superior Courts of Record

“For the avoidance of doubt, these qualities are reproduced hereunder ‘in all cases: a) good character and reputation, diligence and hard work, honesty, integrity and sound knowledge of the law and consistent adherence to professional ethics; as may be applicable:

“Active successful practice at the Bar, including satisfactory presentation of cases in Court at a Legal Practitioner either in private practice or as a Legal Officer in any Public Service:

“Credible record of teaching law, legal research in a reputable University and publication of legal works…”

He said upon receipt of the expressions of interest, the National Secretariat shall publish the names of the interested candidates and request comments thereon from members of the NBA.

Last January, then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad was hailed for inviting lawyers to apply to be considered in the next round of appointments as Justices of the Supreme Court.

But lawyers were shocked when none of the six lawyers recommended by the NBA was chosen for the apex court job. (The Nation)

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