Court strikes out suit against NJC over Imo chief judge appointment

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a suit filed against the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, to challenge the suitability of Justice Ijeoma Agugua as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.

The suit filed by one Hon. Justin Brown Amadi who claimed to be a taxpayer was struck out by Justice Inyang Ekwo on the ground that the plaintiff has no locus standi to file the suit.

Amadi had joined Imo State Judicial Commission, Imo State governor, Imo State Attorney General, Imo State House of Assembly and Justice Ijeoma Agugua as defendants in the matter.

The plaintiff asked the court to consider whether NJC can recommend a suitable person for appointment as Chief Judge for Imo State in view of the provision of section 158 of the 1999 constitution.

He applied for court order to restrain the NJC from recommending the judge as the substantive Chief Judge for Imo State.

Among other things, Amadi predicated his opposition to Justice Agugua’s appointment to the fact that he had written a petition against her and that the petition had not been considered by the NJC.

Plaintiff claimed that his fundamental right to fair hearing will be breached if Justice Agugua is made the substantive Chief Judge without first hearing his petition.

However, the defendants filed separate preliminary objections against the suit to query the legal right of the plaintiff in the chief judge’s appointment.

They contended that being a mere taxpayer in Imo State cannot confer legal right to Amadi to hold Governor Uzodimma and institutions to ransom in the discharge of their judicial and legitimate official functions.

Delivering judgment in the matter on Friday, Justice Ekwo agreed that Amadi completely lacked legal right to file the suit.

The judge said that plaintiff failed woefully to show how his legal right will be endangered or jeopardised if the defendants are allowed to perform their duties.

Specifically, Justice Ekwo said that the plaintiff did not show how his personal right overrode those of the entire people of Imo State, adding that his mere being a taxpayer was not enough to institute such an action.

The judge even faulted his claim of tax payment on the ground that he did not attach any documentary evidence but left the court to assume.

“In a suit of this nature, plaintiff must establish that his personal interest and legal rights are real and tangible in law and not personal aggrandisement as done in this matter.

“From the totality of the case of the plaintiff, he acted in bad faith with utter malice. He embarked on adventures without a cause. His case is simply mischievous,” the judge held.

Justice Ekwo disagreed with Amadi that his right to fair hearing will be breached unless his petition against Justice Agugua is treated first by the NJC.

According to the judge, the NJC is not bound by any law to treat the petition but can only use discretion on such a petition.

“To allow the plaintiff to go ahead with this kind of suit will amount to an individual holding a statutory body into ransom. This case is liable to be struck out and I hereby accordingly strike it out for lacking in merit and substance,” he said.

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