Nigeria, April 3 -- A Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, has restrained the Abia State Government from appointing new judges in the state.

The order followed a suit filed by two female lawyers seeking to be appointed as judges in the state.

Abia State Judicial Service Commission, in 2022, shortlisted candidates for appointment as judges in the Abia State Judiciary.

The candidates attended an interview conducted by the National Judicial Council on 17 October 2022.

The State Security Service was also said to have screened the candidates. They were awaiting official announcements as judges before some persons instituted a suit that stalled the process.

Okezie Ikpeazu was the governor of the state at the time. Mr Ikpeazu would la...