The National Judicial Council, NJC has recommended the appointment of 26 judicial officers as Justices of Court of Appeal and Heads of Court in Nigeria.
The NJC made the recommendation at its 94th meeting held from 17 to 18 March 2021.
The council considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and resolved to recommend for appointment to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governors of Rivers, Nasarawa, Kogi, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Delta States the 26 successful candidates.
A statement by Soji Oye, Director, Information, NJC, indicated that all the recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after approval by Nigeria’s President, their respective State Governors, confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective States Houses of Assembly.
The 18 Justices for Court of Appeal are:“Justice Bature Isah Gafai, Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo, Justice Waziri Abdul-Azeez, Justice Yusuf Alhaji Bashir, Justice Usman A. Musale, Justice Jauro Ibrahim Wakili, Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, Grand Kadi Mohammed Danjuma, Justice Danlami Zama Senchi, Justice Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, Justice Hassan Muslim Sule, Justice Amadi Kenneth Ikechukwu, Justice Peter Oyinkenimiemi Affen, Justice Sybil Onyeji Nwaka Gbagi, Justice Olasumbo Olanrewaju Goodluck, Justice Banjoko Adebukunola Adeoti Ibironke, Justice Olabode Abimbola Adegbehingbe, Justice Bola Samuel Ademola, Chief Judge, FCT, Abuja Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi; Chief Judge, Rivers State Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi; Chief Judge, Nasarawa State Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu; Chief Judge Kogi State, Justice Sunday Omeiza Otu; Chief Judge, Jigawa State , Justice Umar Maigari Sadiq; Chief Judge, Ebonyi State Justice Ngene Anagu Elvis; Chief Judge, Delta State Justice Theresa T. Obiajulu Ogochukwu Diai; President, Customary Court Of Appeal, Delta State Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze.”
According to the statement, “Council at the meeting deliberated on the Reports on 24 petitions written against 29 Judges presented by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee and decided to empanel an investigation Committee against one Judge and issued two strong warning letters against 2 Judges of the Federal and State High Courts.
“It also resolved to set up a Medical Board to ascertain the health status of one Judge,“ Oye stated.
In addition, he said, “Council decided to issue strong warning letters to Hon. Justices Mufutau Olokoba and M. A. Savage of the Lagos State High Court.
Justice Olokoba was reprimanded and also put on the watch list of the Council for his failure to deliver judgement within the Constitutional period of 90 days and Hon, Justice Savage was reprimanded for not being in charge of his Court, according to the statement.
“The remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, overtaken by events or that such petitions were matters for appeal.
“The dismissed petitions were against Hon. Justices Rita Nosakhare Pemu, Ita G. Mbaba and Theresa Ngolika Orji-Abadua all of Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal; Hon. Justices O. O. Oguntoyinbo and A. Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Anslem A. Nwaigwe, Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Hon. Justices M. A. Abubakar, Binta Bawa Rijau of Niger State High Court, Hon. Justice Maurice Odey Eneji of Cross River State and Hon. Justice Kulu Aliyu, Chief Judge, Zamfara State.
“Other petitions dismissed were those written against Hon. Justice S. O. Falola of Osun State Judiciary; Hon. Justices C. C. Okaa, S. N. Odili and P. C. Obiorah, all of Anambra State High Court; Hon. Justice Chukwuemeka – Chikeka, Hon. Justice Ijeoma O. Agugua, Acting Chief Judge of Imo State; Hon. Justice Y. A. Adesanya of the Lagos State Judiciary and Hon. Justices Godwin O. Ollor and S. H. Aprioku of Rivers State High Court.
“Similarly, Council dismissed petitions written against Hon. Justices Hadiza H. Ali-Jos, E. B. Omotoso, I. Ityonyiman, W. O. Animasahun, A. A. Aderibigbe and Hon Kadi M. Y. Usman who served in two Election Petition Tribunals.”
The NJC also received notifications of the retirement of 17 Judicial Officers and notifications of death of three Judges from the Federal and State Judiciaries.
PIAK
