NJC recommends 4 judges for appointment as Supreme Court justices, others

ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended four judges to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, four Heads of Court, 13 Judicial Officers for Federal and State High Courts and one Kadi for Sharia Court of Appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari and several governors for appointment as judges, Kadi and justices of the Supreme Court.

A total of 22 candidates were recommended for appointment. The NJC also set up a committee to investigate eight judges. The NJC under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad CFR, arrived at the decision at its meeting held 22nd and 23rd October, 2019.

Apart from President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who is appointing justices of the Supreme Court, the governors benefiting from the exercise are governors of Edo, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom, Kogi, Anambra, Taraba, Abia, Osun, Nasarawa and Jigawa States.

Those recommended for appointment as Supreme Court Justices are Hon. Justice Adamu Jauro, JCA  (North-East Zone), Hon. Justice Emmanuel A. Agim, JCA   (South-South Zone), Hon. Justice C. Oseji, JCA (South-South Zone) and Hon. Justice Helen M. Ogunwumiju, JCA  (South-West Zone).

Hon. Justice Tsoho John Terhemba was recommended for appointment as Chief Judge, Federal High Court of Justice, while Hon. Justice B. B. Kanyip was recommended to serve as President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

Hon. Justice Esther Amenaghawon Edigin was recommended to the Edo State Governor for appointment as Chief Judge of Edo State, while Hon. Justice Eunice Aderonke Alade was recommended to Ondo State Governor to serve as President Customary Court of Appeal.

Four judges were recommended to the Osun State Governor for appointment as judges of the state high court. Those recommended to serve in that capacity are Mathias Olusegun Agboola, Esq, Sikiru Adeposi Oke, Esq, Olorunfemi Judith Ajanaku, Esq and Lawrence Olawale Arojo, Esq.

 Bawa Sunday Baba, Esq was recommended to Nasarawa State Governor for appointment as judge of the state high court,   Nkeruwem Martin Obot, Esq recommended to Akwa Ibom State Governor as judge of the state high court, Yahaya Adamu, Esq was recommended to the Kogi State Governor to serve as judge of the state high court.

Two judges were recommended to the Anambra State Governor to serve as judges of the state high court. Those benefiting are Onyinye Samuel Anumonye, Esq and Victoria Toochukwu Nwoye, Esq.

Goje Yahaya Hamman, Esq was recommended to the Taraba State Governor to serve as a judge of the state hight court. Three judges were recommended to the Abia State Governor as judges of the state high court. The beneficiaries are Benson Anya, Esq., Enyinnaya Okezie, Esq and Adiele Ogbonna, Esq.

Ibrahim Alhaji Ya’u was recommended to the Jigawa State Governor for appointment as Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal

“All the appointed Judges are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the President and their respective State Governors and or confirmation by the Senate and State Houses of Assembly as the case may be”, the NJC said in a statement by Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye.

Soji Oye said that council deliberated on the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee and decided to empanel eight (8) Committees to investigate eight (8) Judicial Officers from amongst the 35 petitions written against 37 Judges of the Federal and State High Courts.

He said the remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, concerning administrative matters, or that such petitions were matters for appeal.

“The dismissed petitions were against Hon. Justice Adamu Abdu-kafarati, the immediate past Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justices Anduwi Chikere, H. I. O. Oshoma, Ayo Emmanuel all of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice J. D. Peters, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo (Rtd), of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke (Rtd), Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justices K. A. Jose, S. S. Ogunsanya, T. A. Oyekan-Abdullahi, O. O. Femi-Adeniyi and D. T. Okuwobi, all of the Lagos State High Court of Justice. Hon. Justice Mojisola Idayat Sule, Oyo State High Court, Hon. Justices R. D. Harriman, A. O. Omamogbo, Michael Nduka Obi, High Court of Justice, Delta State, Hon. Justice E. N. Thompson, River State High Court, Hon. Justice Inaikende Eradiri, High Court, Bayelsa State, Hon. Justices N. B. Ukoha and B. C. Iheka of High Court of Justice, Imo State, Hon. Justices F. I. N. Ngwu, R. O. Odugu, Enugu State High Court, Hon. Justice Abdulkadir H. Suleiman, Bauchi State High Court and Hon. Justice Garba Abdulkadir of the Katsina State High Court of Justice.

Council also approved the recommendation of two (2) Committees earlier set-up to investigate Hon. Justice Winifred I. A. Effiong of Akwa-Ibom State High Court of Justice and Hon. Justice Bello Aliyu Gusau of High of Justice, Zamfara State which absolved them of any judicial misconduct.