Committee greenlights Ghani's appointment as Chief Justice

The Judiciary Committee of the People's Majlis has approved the appointment of former Supreme Court Justice Abdul Ghani Mohamed as the Chief Justice.

The matter of Ghani's appointment as Chief Justice was sent to the Judiciary Committee during the morning session of Monday's parliamentary sitting. In a meeting held on Monday, the Judiciary Committee unanimously decided to approve Ghani. The matter will now be forwarded to the parliament floor.

When the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) initially opened applications for the position of Chief Justice, three individuals applied. The position became vacant after Ahmed Muthasim Adnan decided to retire.

The applicants for the position were former Supreme Court Justice Abdul Ghani Mohamed, former Chief Judge of the High Court Shujau Usman, and Family Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed.

Ghani has previously served as a judge in the Civil Court, Chief Judge of the High Court, and later as a Justice of the Supreme Court. He is also a former president of JSC. Ghani is currently the president of the Tax Appeal Tribunal. He served as a judge in the Civil Court from 2000 to 2004 and as a judge in the High Court from 2004 onwards.

Based on the scores given by JSC members, Ghani received a "Highly Recommended" rating for appointment as Chief Justice. Abdulla Mohamed received a "Recommended" rating.

In December 2019, the People's Majlis dismissed Ghani from his position due to certain decisions made by the Supreme Court. However, last year he was appointed as a member of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.

The cases examined against Ghani when he was dismissed from the Supreme Court included the Supreme Court's order to dismiss 12 lawmakers of the People's Majlis, the Supreme Court's decision to suspend Abdulla Didi on allegations of bribery while serving as a Supreme Court Justice, and the establishment of a Judicial Council.