Lagos govt invites applications for appointment as judges

The Lagos State Judiciary has called for applications from members of the legal profession who are interested in being appointed as high court judges.

The Lagos State Judicial Service Commission made the call in a September 7, 2020 circular titled, ‘Call for Expression of Interest in RE: Appointment to the High Court Bench of Lagos State.’

The notice, signed by the Chief Judge of Lagos State and Chairman of the judicial service commission, Justice Kazeem Alogba, was placed on notice boards on the premises of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.

It called on “suitable persons interested in being appointed as judges of the High Court of Lagos State to express such interest in writing within 14 days.”

It said the applicants must submit the written expression of interest along with eight copies each of their curriculum vitae and credential.

The Executive Director, Access to Justice, an NGO working as watchdog in the judiciary, Mr Joseph Otteh, said the open and public call for application was a welcome development.

Otteh noted that though such a call was a requirement in the National Judicial Council Guidelines for Appointment of Judicial Officers, it was often neglected.

Speaking on the phone with our correspondent on Thursday, Otteh said, “It is not just our advocacy, it is in line with the 2014 NJC guidelines for appointment of judicial officers. It is a requirement, but so many times, it is not done but I am happy that this time, the Lagos State Judiciary is doing the right thing.”