NJC ISSUES WARNING LETTERS TO THREE JUDGES AND BARS THEM FROM ELEVATION TO HIGHER BENCH FOR A PERIOD; EMPANELS COMMITTEES TO INVESTIGATE 8 JUDGES OF THE FEDERAL & STATE COURTS; APPOINTS 86 JUDICIAL OFFICERS FOR FEDERAL & STATE COURTS;
The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its plenary of 105th Meeting held on 15 & 16 May 2024, resolved to issue warning letters to Hon Justice Inyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court.
Hon Justice Inyang E. Ekwo is warned for abuse of discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors,
The Hon Judge is also barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for a period of two years.
Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgement within stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, Suit No A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses.
Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for a period of three years.
Council cautioned Hon. Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in Suit No YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgement of any Court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.
Council at the meeting considered two Reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight Committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees.
Petition against various Judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.
The dismissed petitions were against Hon Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Hon Justices S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Hon Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Hon Justice Okey Paulinus Aneke, High Court Enugu State and Hon Justice C. Anya of Abia State.
Others are Hon Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, Hon Justices T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo State High Court, Hon Justice Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa State High Court, Hon Justice T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba State, High Justices W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, Hon Justice C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi State.
The Council deliberated on the notification of retirements of three Judicial Officers including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON and notification of death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts.
Council at the Meeting also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend the under-listed 86 Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria.
They are as follows:
TWENTY-TWO (22) JUSTICES, COURT OF APPEAL
Hon. Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna
Hon. Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola
Hon. Justice Eleojo Eneche
Hon. Justice Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf
Hon. Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman
Hon. Justice Abdu Dogo
Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru
Hon. Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani
Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar
Hon. Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka
Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba
Hon. Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu
Hon. Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi
Hon. Justice Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke
Hon. Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor
Hon. Justice Ntong Festus Ntong
Hon. Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi
Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette
Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo
Hon. Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem
Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola
Hon. Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi
TWELVE (12) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, FCT ABUJA
Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo
Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi
Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike
Odo Celestine Obinna
Hauwa Lawal Gummi
Abdurahman Usman
Buetnaan Mandy Bassi
Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh
Maryan Iye Yusuf
Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria
Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike
Munirat Ibrahim Tanko
SEVEN (7) JUDGES, IMO STATE HIGH COURT
Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi
Uchenna Mary Njoku
Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze
Ononogbo Chidi Linus
Adaego Peace Nosiri
Emeka Ozoma Orafu
Mathew Chinedu Ijezie
SIX (6) JUDGES, BAUCH STATE HIGH COURT
Amin Umar Ilelah
Aliyu Bin Idris
Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi
Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf
Abdussalam Idris Waziri
Kawu A. Yerima
THREE (3) JUDGES, TARABA STATE HIGH COURT
Hamidu Audu
Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma
Joel Daniel Ubandoma
THIRTEEN (13) JUDGES, LAGOS STATE HIGH COURT
Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru
Azeez Fimisola Augusta
Alebiosu Olawale Lawal
Adewale Russel Musiliu
Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose
Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed
Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade
George Alfred Akingbola
Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu
Shonubi Adenike Kudirat
Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola
Layinka Oyeladun Amope
Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin
FOUR (4) JUDGES, KOGI STATE HIGH COURT
Ajesola Joseph Sunday
Ojoma Rachael Haruna
Kadiri Badama
Ezema Beatrice Ada
TWO (2) JUDGES, JIGAWA STATE HIGH COURT,
Mohammad El-Usman
Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo
FIVE (5) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, BAUCHI STATE
Ishaku Magaji
Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo
Bello Mohammed Sambowal
Muhyiddeen Mohammed
Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin
FIVE (5) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE
Muhammad Muhammad Bello
Okino Isah Saidu
Yakubu Adavenge Abbas
Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu
Idris Alhaji Abdullahi
ONE (1) KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, JIGAWA STATE
Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam
THREE (3) JUDGES, IMO STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL
Everyman Ezenna Eleanya
Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna
Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi
TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE
Esther Tata
Benjamin Samuila Bawage
ONE (1) JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE
Maryann Oziohu Otaru
All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors.
Soji Oye, Esq.
Director, Information
