The National Judicial Council (NJC) is expected to send the names of 11 candidates who have been successful in their application for the position of Supreme Court justices to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment.
It has also been reported that 22 candidates, who were given priority and were on the reserve list, were interviewed on Tuesday at the Committee Room of the NJC in Abuja from 9 am to 6 pm.
The candidates on the priority list include Justice Jummai Sankey, Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Mohammed Idris, Justice Abubakar Umar, Justice Chidiebere Uwa, Justice Obande Ogbuinya, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, Justice Moore Adumein and Justice Habeeb Abiru.
The names of the reserved candidates are Justice Muhammad Sirajo, Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, Justice Joseph Ikyegh, Justice Abubakar Talba, Justice Balkisu Aliyu, Justice Abdullahi Bayero, Justice Onyekachi Otisi; Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua, Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, Justice Biobele Georgewill, and Justice Oyewole Kayode.
According to a source who spoke to The Punch at the National Judicial Council (NJC), the names of the shortlisted justices have been approved by different security agencies, such as the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police.
The names will be sent to President Tinubu after the NJC plenary.
The source said: “The screening was done today (Tuesday). It started at 9 am and lasted till 6 pm. The screening of justices was held in the committee room of the NJC. Their names were earlier sent to security agencies for clearance before they came to the NJC.
“The interview committee comprising members of the council is the one conducting the screening for the shortlisted justices. That committee is headed by the second in command, which is Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
“The council will meet, and the names of successful candidates will be ratified. After the plenary, the names of the ratified justices will be immediately sent to the President. The plenary should be concluded at most in the next two days.”
Allub Times gathered that the NJC guideline for appointing justices to the apex court states that the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission/Committee should create a preliminary shortlist based on merit.
The list should include at least twice the number of judicial officers to be appointed at that time. The provisional shortlist should be shared with a request for feedback on the suitability of the candidates.
The NJC will then review each candidate on the shortlist. Those who are shortlisted will be interviewed by the NJC to determine their suitability. The names of the successful candidates will then be sent to the President.
