NJC Issues Warnings, Investigates Judges, And Appoints 86 Judicial Officers

In its 105th plenary meeting held on May 15-16, 2024, the National Judicial Council (NJC), chaired by Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, took significant actions regarding judicial conduct and appointments. In a notice signed by Mr Soji Oye, Esq., Director of Information of the NJC, the following key resolutions were passed:

1. Issuance of Warning Letters:
– Hon. Justice Inyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court received a warning for abusing discretionary power by wrongly granting an ex parte order in the case of Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors (Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023). He is also barred from elevation to a higher bench for two years.
– Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of the Delta State High Court was warned for failing to deliver judgment within the stipulated period in the case of Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank (Suit No A/94/2010). He is barred from elevation for three years.
– Hon. Justice Amina Shehu of the Yobe State High Court was cautioned for issuing a Writ of Possession in the absence of a subsisting judgment.

2. Investigation Committees:
– The NJC decided to empanel eight committees to investigate eight judges of the Federal and State Courts based on meritorious petitions out of the 35 assessed by the Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.
– Petitions against several judges were dismissed due to lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice, or being matters that could be appealed. The dismissed petitions included those against judges from the Federal High Court, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, various State High Courts, and the Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State.

3. Judicial Appointments:
– The NJC considered and approved the recommendations of its Interview Committee on the appointment of 86 judicial officers for various courts. The appointments include:
– 22 Justices to the Court of Appeal
– 12 Judges to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory
– 7 Judges to the Imo State High Court
– 6 Judges to the Bauchi State High Court
– 3 Judges to the Taraba State High Court
– 13 Judges to the Lagos State High Court
– 4 Judges to the Kogi State High Court
– 2 Judges to the Jigawa State High Court
– 5 Kadis to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi State
– 5 Kadis to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kogi State
– 1 Kadi to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa State
– 3 Judges to the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal
– 2 Judges to the Customary Court of Appeal, Taraba State
– 1 Judge to the Customary Court of Appeal, Kogi State

The full list of appointments is reproduced below:

TWENTY-TWO (22) JUSTICES, COURT OF APPEAL
1. Hon. Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna
2. Hon. Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola
3. Hon. Justice Eleojo Eneche
4. Hon. Justice Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf
5. Hon. Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman
6. Hon. Justice Abdu Dogo
7. Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru
8. Hon. Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani
9. Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar
10. Hon. Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka
11. Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba
12. Hon. Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu
13. Hon. Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi
14. Hon. Justice Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke
15. Hon. Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor
16. Hon. Justice Ntong Festus Ntong
17. Hon. Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi
18. Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette
19. Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo
20. Hon. Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem
21. Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola
22. Hon. Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi

2. TWELVE (12) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, FCT ABUJA
1. Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo
2. Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi
3. Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike
4. Odo Celestine Obinna
5. Hauwa Lawal Gummi
6. Abdurahman Usman
7. Buetnaan Mandy Bassi
8. Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh
9. Maryan Iye Yusuf
10. Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria
11. Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike
12. Munirat Ibrahim Tanko

3. SEVEN (7) JUDGES, IMO STATE HIGH COURT
1. Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi
2. Uchenna Mary Njoku
3. Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze
4. Ononogbo Chidi Linus
5. Adaego Peace Nosiri
6. Emeka Ozoma Orafu
7. Mathew Chinedu Ijezie
4. SIX (6) JUDGES, BAUCH STATE HIGH COURT
1. Amin Umar Ilelah
2. Aliyu Bin Idris
3. Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi
4. Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf
5. Abdussalam Idris Waziri
6. Kawu A. Yerima

5. THREE (3) JUDGES, TARABA STATE HIGH COURT
1. Hamidu Audu
2. Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma
3. Joel Daniel Ubandoma

6. THIRTEEN (13) JUDGES, LAGOS STATE HIGH COURT
1. Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru
2. Azeez Fimisola Augusta
3. Alebiosu Olawale Lawal
4. Adewale Russel Musiliu
5. Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose
6. Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed
7. Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade
8. George Alfred Akingbola
9. Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu
10. Shonubi Adenike Kudirat
11. Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola
12. Layinka Oyeladun Amope
13. Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin

7. FOUR (4) JUDGES, KOGI STATE HIGH COURT
1. Ajesola Joseph Sunday
2. Ojoma Rachael Haruna
3. Kadiri Badama
4. Ezema Beatrice Ada

8. TWO (2) JUDGES, JIGAWA STATE HIGH COURT,
1. Mohammad El-Usman
2. Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo

9. FIVE (5) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, BAUCHI STATE
1. Ishaku Magaji
2. Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo
3. Bello Mohammed Sambowal
4. Muhyiddeen Mohammed
5. Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin
10. FIVE (5) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE
1. Muhammad Muhammad Bello
2. Okino Isah Saidu
3. Yakubu Adavenge Abbas
4. Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu
5. Idris Alhaji Abdullahi

11. ONE (1) KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, JIGAWA STATE
1. Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam

12. THREE (3) JUDGES, IMO STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL
1. Everyman Ezenna Eleanya
2. Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna
3. Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi

13. TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE
1. Esther Tata
2. Benjamin Samuila Bawage

14. ONE (1) JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE
1. Maryann Oziohu Otaru

The NJC also deliberated on the retirements of three judicial officers, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, and noted the deaths of three judges of the Federal and State Courts.

All recommended candidates will be sworn in upon approval of the NJC recommendations by the President and the respective State Governors.