National Judicial Council Begins Screening Process for 22 New Justices to Join the Supreme Court

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has commenced the screening of 22 justices nominated by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to occupy vacant seats on the esteemed Supreme Court Bench.

The screening is currently underway at the NJC’s Boardroom, with several justices already present for this pivotal evaluation.

This panel session is anticipated to extend over a week, culminating in the selection of 11 justices who will ultimately fill the vacant positions from the pool of 22 nominees undergoing rigorous scrutiny.

On November 16, the FJSC nominated six justices from the North-Central region, two each from the South-West and South-South, six from the South-East, and two from the North-East.

The Supreme Court had, as reported in September 2023, dwindled to 11 serving justices following the retirement of Justice Amina Augie.

List of Nominated Justices of the Court of Appeal for Elevation to the Supreme Court:

South East:

• Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Abia State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Abia State) – Reserve
• Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Ebonyi State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Imo State) – Reserve
• Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Chioma Nwosu-lheme (Imo State) – Reserve

South South:

• Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Bayelsa State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Rivers State) – Reserve

South West:

• Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Lagos State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Osun State) – Reserve

North Central:

• Hon Jummai Sankey (Plateau State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau) – Reserve
• Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Kogi State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Nassarawa State) – Reserve
• Hon Justice Baba Idris (Niger State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Benue State) – Reserve

North East:

• Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Adamawa State) – Reserve

North West:

• Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Zamfara State) – Reserve
• Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi State) – Priority
• Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Kano State) – Reserve