The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 11 justices to the Supreme Court.
The apex court has come under scrutiny of recent following an all time shortfall of the expected number of Justices that should be on its bench to just 10.
With this appointment, the apex court will have the full complement of 21 justices, as envisaged by the Constitution.
A statement by the apex court’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, said the recommendation was made at the 104th meeting of the council in Abuja on Wednesday.
The recommended candidates would be sworn-in after the approval of their recommendation by President Bola Tinubu and the subsequent confirmation of their appointment by the Senate.
Those recommended for appointment to the Supreme Court are:
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.
The NJC at its last meeting for the year also recommended the appointment of Justice Mohammed Ramat to the Court of Appeal, as well as six heads of courts and 26 other judicial officers.
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.
Read the full press release below:
NJC RECOMMENDS APPOINTMENT OF 11 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, ONE JUSTICE OF COURT OF APPEAL, 6 HEADS OF COURTS AND 26 OTHER JUDICIAL OFFICERS
The National Judicial Council, at its 104 Meeting of 6 December 2023 considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and at the end of deliberations, recommended the under-listed names of successful candidates as Heads of Courts and other Judicial Officers for the Federal and State Courts in Nigeria.
They are as follows:
ELEVEN JUSTICES, SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA
- 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, COURT OF APPEAL
- Hon. Justice Mohammed Ahmed Ramat
CHIEF JUDGE 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.
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.
Soji Oye, Esq.
Director, Information
