* Recommends 3 heads of courts, others
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended twenty-two successful candidates to President Muhammadu Buhari and their respective State Governors for appointment as Justices of Supreme Court of Nigeria, Heads of Court and other Judicial Officers in Nigeria.
The Director of Information of the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, disclosec this in a statement on Friday, noting that the names of the successful candidates were considered at the 2nd Virtual Meeting of the NJC held on August 11 and 12, 2020.
The successful candidates considered for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court are, Justices Tijjani Abubakar (North-East Zone), Mohammed L. Garba, (North-West Zone), Abdu Aboki, (North-West Zone) and Mohammed M. Saulawa (North-west Zone).
The Supreme Court of Nigeria currently has a total of 12 Justices including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko, consisting of two Justices from North Central, one from the North East, one from North West, three from South East, one from the South-South and three from the South West.
The Council also recommended Justice Gumna Kashim Kaigama for appointment as Chief Judge of Yobe State, Kadi Muhammed Abubakar as Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal of Katsina State and Justice Mathew Emeka Njoku as President, Customary a Court of Appeal, Imo State.
Other appointments, according to the statement, are Justices Jamilu Shehu Suleiman, Maryam Ahmen Sabo, Sanusi Ado Ma’aji, Abdu Maiwada Abubakar, Zuwaira Yusuf and Hafsat Yahaya Sani as Judges of the Kano State High Court.
Justices Clara Jummai Kataps and Kazera Blessing Kodiya were also recommended for appointment as Judges of the Taraba State High Court, while Muhammad Aminu Danjuma, Mustapha Umar, Muhammad Tukur Rashid and Muhammad Nasir Sidi were appointed Kadis of the Kaduna state Saharia Court of Appeal.
Justices Gabriel Nkeiruka Dele Okafor, Grace Abanre Ibiye and Jessica Susan Gberevbie were also considered for appointment for the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal
All recommended candidates, according to the NJC spokesman, are expected to be sworn-in subject to approval by President Muhammadu Buhari and their respective State governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective State House of Assemblies.