NJC receives 22 nominees for Supreme Court justices

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has received a list of 22 nominees for elevation to the Supreme Court Bench.

The NJC is expected to pick 11 deserving candidates from the list, as there are only 11 openings, and forward the same to President Bola Tinubu, who shall appoint them to the Supreme Court bench, subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) shortlisted 22 Justices of the Court of Appeal for elevation to the Supreme Court bench.

On the list is Justice Haruna Tsammani, who led the panel that affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Specifically, whereas six justices were nominated from the North-Central region, the South-West and South-South regions got two nominees each.

Similarly, while six Justices were okayed from the South-East, the North-East got two nominees in the list that was forwarded to the NJC.

The development came barely four days after President Tinubu pleaded for qualified, experienced, and diligent private legal practitioners to be appointed to both the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court bench.

In an address presented at the opening session of the 2023 All Nigerian Judges Conference of the Superior Courts, which was held last Monday, Tinubu maintained that selecting qualified lawyers to fill the vacant seats on the bench of the two superior courts would further strengthen the nation’s judiciary.

“I seize this opportunity to make one sentence on the appointment of private legal practitioners into our appellate courts.

“Considering the constitutional provisions in practice in other jurisdictions, I am of the strong view that in order to further strengthen our appellate court, qualified, experienced, and diligent private legal practitioners should be considered for appointment to both the Appeal and Supreme Court, as the nation will benefit from this,” President Tinubu had reasoned.

Below is the list of the nominated justices:

SOUTH EAST

Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Abia State)—Priority

Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Abia State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Ebonyi State)-Priority

Hon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Imo State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu State)—Priority

Hon Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (Imo State)—Reserve

SOUTH-SOUTH:

Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Bayelsa State)—Priority

Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Rivers State)—Reserve

SOUTH WEST:

Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Lagos State)—Priority

Hon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Osun State)—Reserve

NORTH CENTRAL:

Hon Jummai Sankey (Plateau State)—Priority

Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Kogi State)—Priority

Hon Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Nassarawa State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Baba Idris (Niger State)—Priority

Hon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Benue State)—Reserve

NORTH EAST:

Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi State)—Priority

Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Adamawa State)

NORTH WEST:

Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa State)—Priority

Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Zamfara State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi State)—Priority

Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Kano State)—Reserve