The National Judicial Council (NJC) has finally nominated 11 qualified judges for nomination to the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s bench.
The suggestion was made by the council on Wednesday evening, along with six Heads of Court and 26 other Judicial Officers.
The NJC announced the new justices for the Supreme Court at its 104th meeting on December 6, 2023, in Abuja.
The announcement came only two weeks after the Chairman of the Council and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, stated that the highest court will receive 21 legally mandated full complements in his own time.
A statement by the NJC Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye, listed those recommended to include Justices Justices Jummai Hannatu Sankey, Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa, Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme Haruna Simon Tsammani and Moore Aseimo A. Adumein.
Others on the list include Justices Obande Festus Ogbuiny, Stephen Jonah Adah, Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru, Jamilu Yammama Tukur, Abubakar Sadiq Umarand Mohammed Baba Idris.
One Justice for the Court of Appeal, six Heads of Court, and 26 other Judicial officers are also proposed for appointment.
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of Abuja’s Federal High Court has been promoted to the Court of Appeal.
Others recommended for appointments include:
Justice Joel Filibus Agya as Chief Judge for Taraba State
Justice Umar Abubakar as Chief Judge for Kebbi State
Hon. Kadi Sadiq Usman Mukhtar as Grand Kadi for the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kebbi State.
Justice A. O. Femi-Segun emerged as President, Customary Court of Appeal for Ogun State, Justice Alfred Yakubu as President, Customary Court of Appeal for Taraba
Tajudeen M. Abdulganiyu as President, Customary Court of Appeal for Oyo State.
Amaebi Ibomo Orukari received a recommendation for appointment as Bayelsa High Court Judge. Akinyemi Martins Ayodele was recommended for Ogun State High Court, and three others—Ama Edet Ekpo, Theresa Ansa Agom, and Jalarth Ogar Agim—for the High Court of Cross River State.
Aminu Abdullahi Gusau, Usman Hassan Gummi, and Hadi Sani were recommended for the Zamfara Sharia Court of Appeal.
According to the NJC release, two Kadis, Abubakar Ahmad Tijjani and Aliyu Ibrahim Ebbema, have been appointed to the Nasarawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.
Also recommended are nine persons for Kano State High Court, including Fatima Adamu, Hauwa Lawal Umar, Musa Ahmad, Musa Daihuru Mohammed, Farida Rabiu Danbappa, Halima Aliyu Nasir, Aisha Mahmoud, Adam Abdullahi, and Hanif Sanusi Yusuf.
Nasarawa State High Court received four nominees, comprising Esther Mami Ejeh, Ibrahim Dauda Shekarau, Musa Muhammad Dallah, and Makama Tanze Benjamin.
Two judges were recommended for appointment to the Ogun State Customary Court of Appeal: Awoyomi Bolanle Adenike and Lawal Adeniyi Olusanya, while one was recommended for the Bayelsa State Customary Court of Appeal: Opokuma David Lawrence.
The statement went on to say that all proposed candidates for the Supreme Court Bench will be sworn in when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approves their recommendation and the Senate confirms their appointment.
Similarly, the different heads of court proposed would be sworn in when their nominations were approved by their respective state governors and confirmed by their respective state houses of assembly.
