The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged Governor Bala Mohammed to reconsider the planned appointment of seven new High Court judges in the state over what it described as gender-based segregation in the recruitment process.
Addressing journalists in Bauchi, the chairman of the NBA Bauchi Branch, Rabiu Garba, said the association was concerned about a public notice issued by the Bauchi State Judicial Service Commission for the appointment of seven judges, with five slots allegedly reserved for females and two for males.
Garba said the notice, referenced BAS/JSC/S/APP/3/VOL.III and dated 27 April 2026, had generated widespread concern among members of the association due to its explicit gender classification.
According to him, the arrangement contravened Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, ethnicity, religion, or other status.
He explained that the concerns raised by members led to the convening of an emergency congress on May 15, 2026, at the Bauchi Bar Centre, where the matter was extensively deliberated upon.
The NBA, however, commended the Chief Judge of Bauchi State and Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, for securing seven judicial slots for the state, but added that the appointment process must comply with constitutional provisions and principles of fairness.
The congress resolved that appointments into the judiciary should be based on integrity, competence, capacity, and capability rather than gender considerations.
The association also called for a transparent and inclusive recruitment process in line with Section 271(3) of the Constitution, urging the commission to provide equal opportunities for qualified candidates from both the public and private legal sectors.
According to the NBA, opening the process to all qualified legal practitioners would strengthen the judiciary and ensure the emergence of the most competent candidates.
The association further appealed to the Judicial Service Commission to review the exercise in line with its resolutions in order to promote fairness, uphold the rule of law, and sustain public confidence in the judiciary.
The Bauchi NBA added that it expects the commission to respond positively to its concerns, warning that it may take further steps if the issues raised are not addressed.
Bauchi NBA opposes gender-based allocation in judges’ appointment plan
