By Ayomide Otitoju
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has disowned a report circulating on social and conventional media claiming that 34 lawyers failed an integrity test and were dropped from consideration for appointment as judges of the Federal High Court.
In a statement issued by its Secretary, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, the NJC described the report as inaccurate, unauthorised, and misleading, stressing that it does not reflect the actual events surrounding the ongoing judicial appointment process.
Saleh clarified that all the processes referenced in the report were conducted solely at the level of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), noting that the NJC has not taken any decision or action concerning the candidates mentioned.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the processes referenced in the report were conducted entirely at the FJSC level, and no decision or action has yet been taken by the National Judicial Council in respect of the candidates concerned,” the statement said.
The Council explained that while some candidates were discontinued at the FJSC stage due to adverse findings arising from petitions submitted to the Commission, others did not advance further because they failed to attain the required qualifying scores to proceed to the interview stage before the NJC.
The NJC also dismissed claims that candidates were disqualified through a newly introduced or stand-alone “integrity test,” stressing that no such test exists. It noted that judicial appointments follow a structured, merit-based, and multi-layered process involving written examinations, performance benchmarks, background checks, petition reviews where applicable, and interviews conducted in line with established guidelines.
The Council expressed concern that the circulation of inaccurate and speculative reports could mislead the public and unfairly damage the reputation of candidates who participated in the selection process in good faith.
It added that internal investigations have been initiated to identify the source of the unauthorised report, assuring that appropriate steps would be taken to safeguard the integrity and credibility of its procedures.
The NJC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness, due process, and the highest standards of judicial integrity, while urging media organisations to seek clarification through authorised channels before publishing reports on sensitive institutional matters.
