Magistrates in Kwara State under the aegis of Magistrate Association of Nigeria (MAN) have threatened to embark on a three-day warning strike to protest the appointments of four magistrates by the state Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

They expressed displeasure over the "anomalies" in the appointment of Magistrates Ahmed Maryam Belgore, Baraje Abdulkadir Bilqis, Haruna Danladi Mohammed and Shafi'i Lukman in June 29, 2012 as Magistrates Grade 1 and the subsequent promotion of Baraje and Belgore to Senior Magistrates on January 1st which they described as "unmerited and surreptitious".

Daily Trust gathered that the association had in a June 6 letter given the commission 14 days to correct the anomalies or risk strike.

The ultimatum which was to elapse on Monday has however been extended by one week, according to one of the magistrates who spoke to Daily Trust correspondent.

The ultimatum was issued after the association had written two separate letters dated January 30th, 2014 and 22nd May, respectively to the Chief Judge who is the chairman of the commission.

The June 6, letter where the ultimatum was issued was signed by 23 magistrates led by its Chairman, K. A Yahaya and copies were sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Nigeria Bar Association and Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

"Against the backdrop of the foregoing, the Magistrates' Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kwara State chapter hereby gives the commission a 14 day ultimatum within which to address our grievances. If nothing is done within the stipulated time, we shall embark on three days warning strike. If, at the expiration of the warning strike, the commission remains adamant and persistent, this letter should be taken as a notice of indefinite strike", the group said.

Chairman of NBA in Ilorin, Barrister Mobolaji Ojibara, said the complaint of the magistrates should be looked into.

Speaking at the valedictory session in honour of late Justice Joseph Ibiwoye, Ojibara said: "We cannot continue to pretend that the issue can be washed away by any other means other than a realistic appraisal of the extant laws guiding the appointment and promotion of judicial officers in the state. We must allow the overall interest of the Rule of Law, which we claim to oversee, dictated by our undying passion for merit and sustenance of the best tradition of the profession to guide us in this matter".

When contacted, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Farouk Akanbi, declined comment, saying, "Let us wait until next week when the ultimatum expires".

The Chief Judge, Justice Ayinla Bamgbola, was not available for comment at the time of filing this report.