The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Justice Olubunmi Oyewole as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The confirmation was a sequel to the presentation and consideration of the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire at the Plenary on Tuesday.
Presenting the report, Senator Adegbonmire said the Committee had screened and scrutinised the documents of the nominee and therefore satified him qualifed for the position of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has scrutinised the CV and the other accompanying documents of the nominee and recommend thus: That the Senate do approve the confirmation of the nomination of Honourable Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole JCA, for appointment as a Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria” he said.
President Bola Tinubu last week, wrote to the Senate seeking the confirmation of Justice Olubunmi Oyewole as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, read President Tinubu’s letter at plenary last Tuesday.
The letter reads: “Pursuant to Section 231 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended…
“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Hon. Justice Oyewole Kayode as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“While it is my hope that the Senate will consider and confirm the nomination expeditiously, please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”
Senator Akpabio thereafter referred the letter to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to report back as soon as possible.
President Tinubu’s letter to the Senate followed Justice Oyewole’s recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) at the Council’s 110th meeting held on 13 and 14 January.
Justice Oyewole, who currently heads the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, was recommended alongside 35 other candidates for other various judicial offices across the country.
Justice Oyewole will now fill in the South-west geo-political zone’s slot which became vacant following the retirement of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola last year.
His appointment will restore the Supreme Court bench, currently with 20 justices including CJN Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to its full complement of 21 justices.
Justice Oyewole, who hails from Ila Orangun, Osun State, began his judicial career as a High Court judge in Lagos.
Incidentally, he was appointed to the Lagos State High Court bench by President Tinubu as then-governor of Lagos State on 24 May 2001.
Reputed for judicial courage and high-level ethics and professionalism, Justice Oyewole, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench on 24 March 2014, has been in the limelight since his days as a High Court judge, handling sensitive, high-profile cases.