CJN Nomination: Senate Judiciary Committee Sets Standard for Transparent Oversight

Senate Judiciary Committee Clarifies CJN Screening Process

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, has explained the procedure and guiding principles behind the screening of nominees for the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), stressing that the process is constitutional, transparent, and free from political influence.

Speaking during a media interaction, Senator Adegbonmire said the appointment of a Chief Justice follows a clearly defined constitutional framework. He explained that the process begins with a comprehensive screening by the National Judicial Council (NJC), which evaluates nominees based on eligibility, competence, integrity, experience, and length of service on the bench.

“The NJC does not act arbitrarily,” he said. “Nominees are assessed on their judicial experience, the nature of cases they have handled, years of service, and overall performance. Only those who meet these criteria are recommended to Mr. President.”

According to the Committee Chairman, the President receives not only the NJC’s recommendations but also detailed records of its deliberations, including evaluations and scoring. Based on these, a nominee is forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

“When the nomination reaches the Senate, we are equally provided with all relevant documents—minutes of meetings, assessments, and scores. The Senate does not act in abstraction. We scrutinise the facts and the process to determine whether the nominee meets constitutional and legal requirements,” he said.

Addressing public perceptions, Senator Adegbonmire cautioned against the assumption that legislative independence must always be demonstrated through opposition to the executive.

“There is a tendency to believe that rejecting executive nominations is proof of legislative independence. That is a misconception. In a democracy, where a nominee is qualified and the process is lawful, it is the duty of the legislature to confirm such a nomination,” he stated.

On concerns regarding judicial performance and integrity, the Committee Chairman—who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with over three decades of legal practice—said he has no reason to doubt the integrity of the judiciary.

“Litigation inevitably produces winners and losers. The fact that a party loses a case does not automatically mean that justice was not served. While judges, being human, may occasionally err, such instances are exceptions rather than the rule,” he noted.

He also urged the media to exercise professionalism and restraint in reporting judicial matters, emphasizing the importance of understanding legal processes and avoiding sensationalism.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the Constitution, protecting judicial independence, and ensuring that only qualified and credible individuals are confirmed to occupy the highest judicial offices in the country.