NJC Commence Screening Of 22 New Justices For Supreme Court

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has embarked on the screening process for 22 justices nominated by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to fill vacant seats on the Supreme Court Bench. Presided over by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the screening is taking place in the NJC’s Boardroom and is anticipated to span about a week.

Several justices nominated for elevation to the Supreme Court have already arrived for the screening, marking a crucial step in the process. The panel, led by the CJN, will rigorously assess the nominees before finalizing the selection of 11 justices who will occupy the vacant positions.

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) had nominated 22 justices of the Court of Appeal to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for elevation to the Supreme Court. The nominees represent various regions of Nigeria, with the North-Central having six, the South-East and South-South each having six, the South-West and North-East each having two, and the North-West having four nominees.

The nominees and their priority and reserve status are as follows:

South-East:

1. Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Priority) 1A. Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Reserve)
2. Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Priority) 2A. Hon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Reserve)
3. Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Priority) 3A. Hon Justice Chioma Nwosu-lheme (Reserve)

South-South:

1. Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Priority) 1A. Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Reserve)

South-West:

1. Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Priority) 1A. Hon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Reserve)

North-Central:

1. Hon Jummai Sankey (Priority) 1A. Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Reserve)
2. Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Priority) 2A. Hon Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Reserve)
3. Hon Justice Baba Idris (Priority) 3A. Hon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Reserve)

North-East:

1. Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Priority) 1A. Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Reserve)

North-West:

1. Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Priority) 1A. Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Reserve)
2. Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Priority) 2A. Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Reserve)

The screening process marks a critical phase in selecting justices who will contribute to the jurisprudence and judicial proceedings at the highest court in Nigeria.