The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the elevation of 11 justices to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
This move comes as the apex court faces vacancies due to the recent death of Justice Centus Nweze and the retirements of Justices Amina Augie and Dattijo Muhammad.
With the constitution allowing a maximum of 21 justices in the Supreme Court, the NJC deliberated on a list of 22 justices of the Court of Appeal for elevation, submitted by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) on November 16.
NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, in a statement said after discussions at the council’s 104th meeting held on Wednesday, 11 out of the 22 nominees have been selected for elevation.
The justices recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court are as follows:
- Hon. Justice Jummai Hannatu Sankey, OFR
- Hon. Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa
- Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme
- Hon. Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani
- Hon. Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein
- Hon. Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya
- Hon. Justice Stephen Jonah Adah
- Hon. Justice Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru
- Hon. Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur
- Hon. Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar
- Hon. Justice Mohammed Baba Idris
ONE JUSTICE OF COURT OF APPEAL
- Hon. Justice Mohammed Ahmed Ramat
CHIEF JUDGE OF TARABA STATE
- Hon. Justice Joel Filibus Agya
CHIEF JUDGE, KEBBI STATE
- Hon. Justice Umar Abubakar
GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KEBBI STATE
- Hon. Kadi Sadiq Usman Mukhtar
PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, OGUN STATE
- Hon. Justice A. O. Femi-Segun
PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE
- Hon. Justice Alfred Yakubu
PRESIDENT, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, OYO STATE
- Hon. Justice Tajudeen M. Abdulganiyu
ONE HIGH COURT JUDGE, BAYELSA STATE
- Amaebi Ibomo Orukari
ONE HIGH COURT JUDGE, OGUN STATE
- Akinyemi Martins Ayodele
THREE HIGH COURT JUDGES, CROSS RIVER STATE
- Ama Edet Ekpo
- Theresa Ansa Agom
- Jalarth Ogar Agim
THREE KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, ZAMFARA STATE
- Aminu Abdullahi Gusau
- Usman Hassan Gummi
- Hadi Sani
TWO KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, NASARAWA STATE
- Abubakar Ahmad Tijjani
- Aliyu Ibrahim Ebbema
NINE HIGH COURT JUDGES, KANO STATE;
- Fatima Adamu
- Hauwa Lawal Umar
- Musa Ahmad
- Musa Daihuru Mohammed
- Farida Rabiu Danbappa
- Halima Aliyu Nasir
- Aisha Mahmoud
- Adam Abdullahi
- Hanif Sanusi Yusuf
ONE JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, BAYELSA STATE
- Opokuma David Lawrence
FOUR HIGH COURT JUDGES, NASARAWA STATE
- Esther Mami Ejeh
- Ibrahim Dauda Shekarau
- Musa Muhammad Dallah
- Makama Tanze Benjamin
TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, OGUN STATE
- Awoyomi Bolanle Adenike
- Lawal Adeniyi Olusanya
“All recommended candidates to the Supreme Court bench would be sworn in after the approval of their recommendation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the subsequent confirmation of their appointment by the Senate,” Oye stated.
“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 the same by their respective state houses of assembly.”