Full List: NJC Appoints Oyewole to Supreme Court, Approves 35 Judges, Clears Osun Chief Judge

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole of the Court of Appeal for appointment to the Supreme Court and approved the appointment of 35 judges for courts across the country.

The decisions were taken at the Council’s 110th meeting held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

Justice Oyewole, who currently presides over the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal, previously served as a judge of the Lagos State High Court, where in 2009 he convicted Chief Olabode George, a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, on money laundering charges.

In a statement by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the Council said it also approved 27 candidates for appointment as judges of various State High Courts. Six were recommended for the Borno State High Court, four for the Niger State High Court, one each for Benue and Taraba states, six for the Plateau State High Court, four for the Delta State High Court, and five for the Ekiti State High Court.

The recommended candidates for the Borno State High Court are Mustapha Mallam Babagana, Hadiza Grema Mustapha, James Peter Bwala, Zannah Tijjani Babakura, Alkali Alhaji Umar Dunoma and Yahaya Alhaji. For the Plateau State High Court, the nominees are Andrawus Maikai, Tongret Nanman Nkwap Kparbong, Diane Ngummai Mantu, John Ishaku Bature, Gavou Musa Mallan and Kingsley Mangai. Those recommended for the Ekiti State High Court are Olanike Caroline Adegoke, Julius Sunday Bamidele Ajibare, Julius Akinyede, Stephen Rotimi Anoma and Adefunke Helen Bamise. For the Niger State High Court, the nominees are Adamu Ahmed Abubakar, Bala Ndajiwo Gambo, Sa’adatu Abubakar Wushishi and Sulaiman Buhari. The recommended candidates for the Delta State High Court are Jonah Akporuaro Sam-Oligida Otite, Ukuli Jereoma, Boeye Irene Adamidenyo and Otome Benjamin, while Babagari Mansura Mohammed was recommended for the Taraba State High Court.

The Council also approved the appointment of six Kadis to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba and Katsina states. Usman Abdulrahman Aboki, Ya’aba Muhammad Mohammed and Nasir Ibrahim were recommended for the Niger State Sharia Court of Appeal; Muhammad Yakubu and Yahaya Abubakar Aliyu for the Taraba State Sharia Court of Appeal; and Mustapha Salisu Mutawakkil for the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal. In addition, Bridget Onome Ojeikere and Stella Ovuorieroro Okah were approved for appointment to the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal.

The NJC said the recommendations followed a screening process that included consideration of public complaints and interviews conducted by a seven-member interview committee, in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.

The Council also approved a three-month extension of the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice I. O. Agugua, and directed the Governor of Imo State to immediately commence the process of reconstituting the State Judicial Service Commission to enable the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge.

The NJC cleared the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, of allegations of financial recklessness, diversion of funds and judicial misconduct. The decision followed the consideration of a report by a three-member investigation committee set up to probe petitions filed by a judiciary staff member, the Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, the state Attorney-General and others. The committee found no evidence to support the allegations and concluded that none amounted to misconduct or a breach of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers. The Council accepted the findings and dismissed all the petitions.

The NJC also dismissed a petition against Justice Gentu E. Timi of the Delta State High Court after the petitioner withdrew the complaint following the resolution of the underlying chieftaincy dispute. It further reversed the one-year suspension without pay earlier imposed on Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, after finding that the petition against her was filed outside the stipulated time and concerned a matter already before an appellate court.

Out of 39 petitions considered by the Council’s preliminary assessment committees, 26 were dismissed for lack of merit, seven were recommended for further investigation, and two judicial officers were cautioned. The Council warned against the indiscriminate grant of ex parte orders and advised Heads of Court to exercise caution in assigning complex cases to newly appointed judges.

The NJC approved the voluntary retirement of Umar Ibrahim Abdullahi, Acting Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Plateau State, and Justice Obientobara Owupele Daniel-Kalio, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division. It noted that Abdullahi passed away shortly after submitting his notice of retirement. The Council also announced the deaths of judicial officers who died between November and December 2025, including Justice Oluwayemisi Ikeolupo Adelaja of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.