Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar

The Federal Judicial Service met for six hours yesterday in a bid to consider and appoint a successor to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukthar, whose tenure ends next month.

Competent judicial sources confirmed to Vanguard that the issue of Mukthar’s successor was one of the major issues considered by the FJS, which met in Abuja from 10am till 4pm on Tuesday.

Although the details of the meeting, which presided over by the CJN, was not made public, it was learnt that the meeting was briefed on the possible candidates to take over from her in November this year.

The commission, it was learnt, met early to begin the process of appointing a successor to the CJN, since she had made it clear to all that she did not want any extension of tenure.

It was also gathered that the names of three senior Supreme Court judges had been tabled before the commission for consideration.

Vanguard learnt that the three judges, whose names are likely to be forwarded by the FJSC to the National Judicial Council for consideration, are: Justices Mahmud Mohammed, Walter Onnoghen and Tanko Ibrahim.

Although the three names were being considered by both the FJSC, only one of them is likely to succeed Mukthar in November after consideration and approval by the NJC and subsequent appointment by the President.

The CJN, who moved into the office about two years ago, has effected many reforms and checkmated corruption in the judiciary even though she has not been able to eliminate the cankerworm.

She has largely been feared by top government officials, who have found it impossible to get access to her since her appointment.

Mukthar is said to have made it very difficult for powerful Nigerians to meet her and discuss any issue relating to court matters, thereby cutting them off from influencing major legal decisions, a development that has made her unpopular among them but highly preferred by Nigerians.