BREAK: NJC STARTS EXAMINING 22 NEW JUSTICES FOR SUPREME COURT POSITION

Babatunji Wusu –

The 22 judges selected by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to fill open Supreme Court benches are now being vetted by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is presiding over the screening, which is happening in the NJC Boardroom.

The panel’s meeting is anticipated to last for roughly a week before the ultimate selection of 11 justices—from the 22 nominees—who would occupy the vacant slots. It has been reported that some of the judges have also arrived for the high-level screening.

Remember that the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) proposed 22 judges of the Court of Appeal to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for elevation to the Supreme Court on November 16?

Six of the nominees are from the North-Central region, with two from the South-West and two from the South-South, according to the FJSC document containing the 22 names.

The South-East region has six nominees as well, while the North-East has two.

Here is the complete list of nominated justices:

(1) SOUTH EAST

1. Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Abia State)-Priority

1A.Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Abia State) -Reserve

2. Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Ebonyi State)-Priority

2AHon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Imo State)- Reserve

3Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu State)-Priority

3AHon Justice Chioma Nwosu-lheme (Imo State)-Reserve

(2)SOUTH SOUTH

1Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Bayelsa State)-Priority

1AHon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Rivers State)-Reserve

(3) SOUTH WEST

1Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Lagos State)-Priority

1AHon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Osun State)-Reserve

(4)NORTH CENTRAL

1Hon Jummai Sankey (Plateau State)-Priority

1A Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau)-Reserve

2Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Kogi State)-Priority

2A Hon Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Nassarawa State) -Reserve

3Hon Justice Baba Idris (Niger State)-Priority

3AHon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Benue State)-Reserve

(5)NORTH EAST

1Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi State)-Priority

1A Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Adamawa State)

(6) NORTH WEST

1. Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa State)-Priority

1A. Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Zamfara State) -Reserve

2. Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi State)-Priority

2A Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Kano State)-Reserve