Confusion At Court Of Appeal Judges’ Inauguration Over Seniority

The inauguration of 18 new Justices for the Court of Appeal, who were raised from several High Courts, caused confusion today.

The confusion surrounding the judges’ seniority in the call for inauguration by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, nearly ruined the event.

The issues began when the Chief Registrar of the Court called Mohammed Danjuma as Grand Khadi instead of Honourable Justice Mohammed Danjuma.

Before the right designation could be applied, the CJN had to intervene.

The issue worsened at the official call for inauguration, when the Chief Registrar called juniors three times before senior ones, in violation of the established custom of seniority.

Bola Samuel Ademola, a younger judge who was invited three times for inauguration, declined, stating that the well-known custom of seniority must be followed.

In addition, the 18 new Appellate Court Justices’ seating arrangement had a minor snafu when younger justices were forced to sit in the seat reserved for senior justices.

It took the involvement of some apex court employees to bring the tumultuous situation under control.