The Kebbi state house of assembly
has denied writing Atiku Bagudu, governor of the state, to confirm the
appointment of Elizabeth Karatu as chief judge of the state.
According to Daily Nigerian,
Karatu, who has been in acting capacity, had said the governor acted against
the approval of the lawmakers who had confirmed Karatu as the substantive chief
judge in January.
She also petitioned the National
Judicial Council (NJC), alleging that the governor did not confirm her
appointment because she is a Christian.
But in a statement, Abdulmumini
Kamba, the speaker of the assembly, said lawmakers had rejected Karatu all the
times the governor wrote them for approval.
He said there was never communication
from the lawmakers conforming her appointment.
“The Kebbi Governor , Senator
Abubakar A Bagudu, wrote to the Honourable House on June 01, 2018 appointing
Justice Asabe Karatu as Chief Judge and seeking the confirmation of the House
as required by the Constitution,” he said.
“Justice Asabe Karatu was invited
by the House on August 1, 2018. During the conformation hearing which Justice
Karatu attended in the company of some Higher Court Judges was discovered by
Honourable Members that the Primary School Leaving Certificate presented by
Justice Karatu was altered severally, including alteration to the date of birth
from May 1952 to May 1954.
“Justice Karatu accepted that she
was aware of the alterations but that they were done by the headmaster.
“On account of the alterations
and other inconsistencies in her credentials, the Honourable House rejected the
request by the Governor and declined to confirm her as Chief Judge of Kebbi
State.
“Subsequently, and on three other
occasions, the State Govenor, Senator Bagudu, wrote and sought her
confirmation. On all the occasions the Honourable House maintained its refusal
to confirm Justice Asabe Karatu as Chief Judge of Kebbi State on account of
alterations and inconsistencies with the last such rejection made by the
Honourable House on May 15, 2019.”
The speaker said the purported
letter showing the lawmakers confirmed Karatu wasn’t written by them.
He also added that it is
noteworthy that the former chief judge of the state was from a Christian, and
that Kebbi state is a multi ethnic and religious state where everyone is
treated equally.
FFK would not see the reason she was not confirmed now... I'm sure he won't say anything concerning this, now that the truth is out
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