The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 26 Judicial Officers, 18 Court of Appeal Justices and eight Heads of Court; empanels committee to investigate one judge; issues two strong warning letters to judges.
NJC under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, made the recommendation at its 94th meeting held December, 2020.
Mr Soji Oye, Director of Information of NJC disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
Oye said the council considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and resolved to recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governors of Rivers, Nasarawa, Kogi, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Delta States 26 successful candidates for appointment as Justices of Court of Appeal and Heads of Court in Nigeria.
The 18 Justices of the Court of Appeal include: Justices Bature Isah Gafai, Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo, Waziri Abdul-Azeez, Yusuf Alhaji Bashir, Usman A. Musale, Jauro Ibrahim Wakili and Abba Bello Mohammed.
Grand Kadi Mohammed Danjuma, Danlami Zama Senchi, Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, Hassan Muslim Sule, Amadi Kenneth Ikechukwu, Peter Oyinkenimiemi Affen, Sybil Onyeji Nwaka Gbagi, and Olasumbo Olanrewaju Goodluck.
Other are Justices Banjoko Adebukunola Adeoti Ibironke, Olabode Abimbola Adegbehingbe and Bola Samuel Ademola.
He noted that Chief Judge of FCT Abuja is Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, Chief Judge of Rivers state Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi while Nasarawa state has Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu.
“The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Sunday Omeiz, Jigawa State is Justice Umar Maigari Sadiq, Ebonyi state has Justice Ngene Anagu Elvis while Delta state has Justice Theresa Ogochukwu Diai.
“The President of the Customary Court Of Appeal, Delta State has Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze.
He noted that all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after approval by the President Buhari, their respective State Governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective States Houses of Assembly.
He added that the council at the meeting deliberated on the reports of 24 petitions written against 29 Judges presented by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee and decided to empanel an investigation Committee against one Judge.
“The council also 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.
“The council issued strong warning letters to Justices Mufutau Olokoba and M. A. Savage of the Lagos State High Court.
“Olokoba was reprimanded and also put on the watch list of the council for his failure to deliver judgment within the constitutional period of 90 days while Savage was reprimanded for not being in charge of his Court.
He said that the remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, overtaken by events or that such petition were matters for appeal.
“The dismissed petitions were against Justices Rita Nosakhare Pemu, Ita G. Mbaba and Theresa Ngolika Orji-Abadua all of Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal.
“Justices O. O. Oguntoyinbo and A. Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Anslem A. Nwaigwe, Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, M. A. Abubakar, Binta Bawa Rijau of Niger State High Court, Maurice Odey Eneji of Cross River State and Kulu Aliyu, Chief Judge, Zamfara State.
Other petitions dismissed were those written against Justices S. O. Falola of Osun State Judiciary, C. C. Okaa, S. N. Odili and P. C. Obiorah, all of Anambra State High Court, Chukwuemeka – Chikeka, Ijeoma O. Agugua, Acting Chief Judge of Imo State.
“Also that of Justices Y. A. Adesanya of the Lagos State Judiciary and Godwin O. Ollor and S. H. Aprioku of Rivers State High Court’’.
Similarly, the council also dismissed petitions written against 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.
Oye noted that the council also received notifications of retirement of 17 Judicial officers and notifications of death of three Judges from the Federal and State Judiciaries.
