Victor Awoleye
The National Judicial Council rose today from an Emergency Meeting to recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari, the appointment of Hon. Dr. Justice Tanko Muhammad, as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
According to a statement by its Director, Information, Mr. Soji Oye, the NJC also on Wednesday recommended eight other persons as Heads of Court.
The Meeting which was initially presided over by Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, considered and approved the recommendation of its Interview Committee that screened the two candidates presented by the Federal Judicial Service Commission to it for appointment as Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Subsequently, the plenary of the Meeting presided over by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, recommended to the Governors of Sokoto, Lagos, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, and Jigawa States, eight (8) successful candidates for appointment as Chief Judges and Grand Kadis for the States.
The recommendations include:
“1. APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUDGE, SOKOTO STATE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE i) Hon. Mr. Justice Muhammad S. Sifawa
2. APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUDGE, LAGOS STATE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
i) Hon. Mr. Justice Kazeem O. Alogba
3. APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUDGE, ANAMBRA STATE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
i) Hon. Mr. Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu
4. APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUDGE, EBONYI STATE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
i) Hon. Mr. Justice Nwaigwe A. Anselm
5. APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUDGE, NIGER STATE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
i) Hon. Mr. Justice Aliyu M. Mayaki
6. APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUDGE, TARABA STATE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
i) Hon. Mr. Justice Filibus B. Andetur
7. APPOINTMENT OF GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KANO
i) Hon. Kadi Tijjani Yusuf Yakasai
8. APPOINTMENT OF GRAND KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, JIGAWA
i) Hon. Kadi Isa Jibrin Gantsa”
The newly appointed Heads of Court will be sworn-in after the approval of the President and their respective State Governors and confirmation by the Senate and State Houses of Assembly as the case may be.
Council at the Meeting commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for his unequivocal position on the financial autonomy for the States Judiciary and called on the various State Executives to as a matter of urgency, commence its immediate implementation.
It posited that this is not only in line with the Constitutional dictates, but presently the Judicial position.
Council also considered notification of retirements of Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judges of Gombe, Edo, Niger, Ebonyi, Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi States as well as those of nine (9) other Judicial Officers from the Federal High Court, High Courts of Gombe, Delta, Edo, Imo, Benue and Katsina States.
Justice Muhammad was sworn in as the Acting CJN on January 25, immediately after the then, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen was suspended by President Buhari.
The President in April requested and obtained the NJC’s consent to extend Muhammad’s acting tenure by the constitutionally-allowed three months.
The extended three months period was due to lapse on July 25.
