Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bauchi Branch, has called on Governor Bala Mohammed to set aside the state’s plan to appoint seven new High Court judges based on a gender quota that reserves five slots for women and two for men, arguing that the arrangement violates the constitutional prohibition against discrimination. In a press conference held in Bauchi on Friday, the association’s chairman, Barrister Rabiu Garba, said the notice issued by the Bauchi State Judicial Service Commission on April 27, 2026, raised grave concerns because it explicitly classified candidates by sex, an approach he described as “gender segregation.” Citing Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which forbids discrimination based on sex, ethnicity, religion, or political opinion, Garba insisted that “appointments into the judiciary should be based strictly on integrity, competence, capacity and professional capability, irrespective of gender.”
The NBA leadership stated that the public notice, referenced BAS/JSC/S/APP/3/VOL.III, had generated widespread unease among its members and prompted an emergency congress at the Bauchi Bar Centre on May 15, 2026. After more than two hours of deliberation, the congress resolved to “jettison” the gender‑based classification in favour of a process that prioritises the qualifications of aspirants regardless of sex. The association also called for the recruitment to be transparently opened to all qualified legal practitioners, both from the public and private bar, as enshrined in Section 271(3) of the Constitution. Garba warned that a narrow, gender‑driven selection would weaken the judiciary’s intellectual standing and set a “dangerous precedent.” Nevertheless, the NBA commended the Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, for securing the seven appointment slots for the state, acknowledging her commitment to expanding the judiciary.
The Judicial Service Commission had invited applications from qualified indigenes, stressing that the move was intended to strengthen female representation on the bench. The notice, signed by Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, listed May 18, 2026, as the deadline for submissions. The governor’s office has yet to issue a formal response to the NBA’s appeal. However, Garba expressed hope that the judicial service commission and the governor would act on the association’s resolutions to uphold the rule of law and public confidence in the judiciary. “The state stands to benefit ultimately,” he said. “A vibrant judiciary produces the best judges and lawyers, while an intellectually weak and dormant judiciary produces the opposite.” The NBA hinted that it might take further steps if its concerns are not addressed.
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