Twenty-nine senators out 109 on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Justice Ishaq Bello as Chief judge of the Federal Capital Territory.
This comes 24 hours after Senate President, Senator David Mark, read President Goodluck Jonathan’s letter on the floor seeking the confirmation of the appointment.
It was gathered that Justice Bello before his confirmation was the judge presiding over trial of six police officers for allegedly killing six Apo traders in 2005.
However, there are said to be series of petitions against his nomination.
One of the petitions submitted to the Senate President by a group friend in the Gap Advocacy, led by Gorge Orji, accused Justice Bello of tactically delaying justice over the Apo Six matter.
President Jonathan in a letter dated May 21 and addressed to the Senate President, Senator David Mark, explained that his request was in line with Section 249 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He said: “The Constitution provides that the Federal High Court shall consist of a Chief Judge and such number of Judges as may be prescribed by Act of the National Assembly.”
The plenary was physically scant when the confirmation was done on Wednesday after the Committee on Judiciary submitted its reports for consideration.