An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Emmanuel Umahi Ekwe, has galvanized support for re-election of Justice Stella Isibhakhomen Anukam of Nigeria into the bench of the African Court on Human Rights in Arusha, Tanzania.

Ekwe, who made the call in Abuja during an exclusive chat with our Judiciary Correspondent, said the industry she exhibited in the span of six years was immeasurably overwhelming. 

Judges from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal, representing the eastern and African western zones, are in tight combat for two slots on the African Court on Human and People’s rights, while Congo, representing the central African zone, goes unopposed.

The Judges are Stella Isibhakhomen Anukam (Nigeria), Duncan Gaswaga (Uganda), Samuel Kimeu (Kenya) and Marie Thiakane (Senegal).  

The executive council of the African Union is expected to elect one candidate from each of the three zones to fill the vacant positions.

The lawyer, while calling on the Executive Council of the African Union to re-elect the Nigerian Judge hinged his other reasons on the Judge’s capacity to deliver, her moral character and her expertise in human and people’s rights as seen in her first term.

He said, “Apart from being a person of impeccable character, Justice Anukam has shown capacity in her first term. The industry she exhibited in the span of six years is immeasurably overwhelming. 

“She is an individual of high moralcharacter with recognized expertise in human and people’s rights as seen in her first term. The reward for good work is more work. Let’s give her more work.”

While wishing the court a successful exercise, he added: “It will be a huge loss to the legal community if we fail to tap from the practical judicial experience of justice Anukam.”