The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended 11 Court of Appeal Justices for elevation to the Supreme Court.
The consideration of the justices recommended was as its 104th meeting held yesterday. The Council considered the list of candidates presented by its interview committee.
Director of Information, Soji Oye, said in a statement that they would be sworn in after the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and confirmation by the Senate.
It will be the first time the Supreme Court will have the full complement of 21 justices, according to Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola.
He said during the new legal year ceremonies that he was determined to break the jinx as one of his legacies.
- Nigeria’s Legal Elite Expands as CJN Swears In 68 New Senior Advocates — Full List
ABUJA — Nigeria’s legal profession has welcomed 68 new Senior…Read More “Nigeria’s Legal Elite Expands as CJN Swears In 68 New Senior Advocates — Full List” »
- Supreme Court Restores INEC Powers Over Party Registers, Primaries Ahead of 2027 PollsThe Supreme Court has upheld the validity of key provisions…
Read More “Supreme Court Restores INEC Powers Over Party Registers, Primaries Ahead of 2027 Polls” »
The number of Supreme Court Justices dropped to 10 from 13 with the retirement of Amina Augie and Musa Dattijo Muhammad, and the death of Chima Nweze.
The process of picking the Supreme Court justices dashed the hope of some senior lawyers in practice and in the academia being appointed to the apex court.
The recommended justices are Jummai Hannatu Sankey (Plateau, Northcentral), Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa (Abia, Southeast), Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme (Imo, Southeast), Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi, Northeast) and Moore Aseimo A. Adumein (Bayelsa, Southsouth).
Others are Obande Festus Ogbuinya (Ebonyi, Southeast), Stephen Jonah Adah (Kogi, Northcentral), Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru (Lagos, Southwest), Jamilu Yammama Tukur (Katsina, Northwest), Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi, Northwest) and Mohammed Baba Idris (Niger, Northcentral).
The NJC replaced Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa, Northwest), with Justice Tukur, who was not on the original list; while Justice Nwosu-Iheme, who was on the reserve list, replaced Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu, Southeast).
Tsammani was the presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
He headed the five-member panel that determined the presidential election petitions.
Another notable name is Justice Idris, renowned as a brilliant and hardworking judge and son of a former CJN, Idris Kutigi.
He was the judge who jailed former Abia State Governor Orji Ozor Kalu while sitting at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Oye said the NJC also recommended Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed for elevation to the Court of Appeal.
Mohammed was the trial judge in the fraud case involving former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam and his Finance Commissioner, Omadachi Oklobia at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The NJC recommended the appointment of other heads of courts, including new Chief Judges for Taraba and Kebbi states.
Justice Joel Filibus Agya was listed for appointment as the Chief Judge of Taraba State and Justice Umar Abubakar as the Chief Judge of Kebbi State.
The NJC recommended the appointment of Kadi Sadiq Usman Mukhtar as the Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kebbi State; Justice A. O. Femi-Segun as the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ogun State, and Justice Alfred Yakubu as President, Customary Court of Appeal, Taraba State.
The NJC put forward Justice Tajudeen M. Abdulganiyu for appointment as the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State; Amaebi Ibomo Orukari as a judge of the High Court of Bayelsa State, and Akinyemi Martins Ayodele as a judge of the High Court of Ogun State.
Also recommended for appointment are Ama Edet Ekpo, Theresa Ansa Agom and Jalarth Ogar Agim (as judges of the High Court of Cross River State); Aminu Abdullahi Gusau, Usman Hassan Gummi and Hadi Sani (as Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Zamfara State), and Abubakar Ahmad Tijjani and Aliyu Ibrahim Ebbema as Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Nasarawa State.
Others are Fatima Adamu, Hauwa Lawal Umar, Musa Ahmad, Musa Daihuru Mohammed, Farida Rabiu Danbappa, Halima Aliyu Nasir, Aisha Mahmoud, Adam Abdullahi and Hanif Sanusi Yusuf as judges of the High Court of Kano State.
Opokuma David Lawrence was selected for appointment as a judge of the Customary Court of Bayelsa State
As judges of the High Court of Nasarawa State, the NJC recommend Esther Mami Ejeh, Ibrahim Dauda Shekarau, Musa Muhammad Dallah and Makama Tanze Benjamin.
It recommended Awoyomi Bolanle Adenike and Lawal Adeniyi Olusanya as judges of the Customary Court of Appeal, Ogun State.
Oye said: “The various heads of court recommended would also be sworn in upon the approval of their appointment by their various state governors and subsequent confirmation of same by their respective state Houses of Assembly.”
