The National Council of the Judiciary has recommended the appointment of nine chief justices and 84 other judicial officers as part of efforts to address the challenges that may arise before the judiciary in the upcoming general elections.
The recommended individuals would serve in the federal and state courts of the country after the nominations.
The Director of Information of the NJC on Wednesday, Abuja-based Soji Oye said the candidates were presented for recommendations at the 100th meeting of the interview panel chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Those recommended for the positions of chief justices are Muhammad Tukur Mu’azu Aliyu (Kaduna), Majebi Josiah Joe (Kogi), Odusola Aiyedun Olusegun (Ondo), Halima Sa’addiya Mohammed (Gombe) and Justice Lilian Abai (Abia). ).
They include Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen (Grand Kadi, Kwara), Justice Stanley Adekunle Lawal (President, Customary Court of Appeal, FCT), Justice Monisola Oluwatoyin Abodunde (President, Customary Court of Appeal (Ekiti)) and Justice Uhuo Patrick Uchenna (President, Customary Court of Appeal Court, Ebonyi State.)
The breakdown of the 84 recommended judicial officers showed that four were for the Ondo High Court and they are Akinbinu Sylvester Femi, Leonard Boyede Ologun, Bolatito Florence Ajibade and Akinwumi Bankole Jacob.
The Ekiti Customary Court of Appeal has three nominees and they are Lawrence Babatope Ojo, Adegboye Rotimi Adesoji and Ogundele Olufolakemi Olufunke.
Borno State has five judges to be appointed and they include Amina Mustapha, Ibrahim Mohammed Maina, Hafsatu Isah Bappah, Bukar Malgwi Umar and Mallam Buna Makinta, while Anambra has two in Etomike Innocent Ndigwe and Tagbo Chinwuba Anieto.
The five nominees for the Sokoto High Court bench are Bashar Ibrahim, Fatima Ahmadu Suka, Abubakar Adamu, Kabiru Muhammad and Amina Modi Yabo, the state Sharia Court of Appeal has two nominees as Kadi and they are Idris Adamu and Mustapha Abdullahi Ahmad.
Ogun State High Court has 8 nominees Oluwafunke Omolara Odubanjo,
Adelaja Adeola Ireti, Basirat Bolanle Adebowale, Adebayo Bamidele Adedapo,
Ayodele Adebayo Omoniyi, Sunday Olufemi Adeniyi, Awofeso Ireti-Olu Babatunde and Abimola Christopher Shokunbi.
The two nominees for the Bayelsa State High Court are Charlie Ebiyon Duke and Ekadi Amadise Michael, and the six from Ebonyi State are Esther Awo Ota, BUkeni Ogoke Stella Ejituruchi, Ruth Obaji Okeh, Blessing Ibeabuchi Chukwu, Christopher Ofoke Mbam and Francis-Abba Solange Amaka.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has six nominees including Buhari Sani, Damachi-Onugba Agede Joyce, Hassan Muhammed Yakubu, Sandra Audu Yelwa, Subilim Emmanuel Danjuma and Muhammad Adamu Hamza.
The Cross Rivers High Court has two nominees in the persons of Okokon Edem Nyong and Amajama Jacob Eneji, while the four in the Adamawa High Court are Christopher Dominic Mapeo, Ahmed Isa, Mohammed Ibrahim Tola and Benjamin Lawan Manji.
Furthermore, Adamawa has a Kadi nominee for its Sharia Court of Appeal in the person of Isa Yusuf khalid, while its Customary Court of Appeal has another judge in the person of Adabala Nicholas.
The breakdown showed that the Rivers State High Court has five nominees Asivosuo Maccarthy Oriye, Omonigho Nwibani, Comfort Ifikmotu- Awaji Adangor, Prince Chika Mini and Beauty Ihuoma Emmanuel-Okere, while its Customary Court of Appeal has two nominated judges, Odiki Daniel- Kalio and Tetenwi Ngeli Eleraba.
Zamfara High Court has four and they are Abdullahi Muhammad Gusau, Umar Adulnasir, Saad Garba Gurbin-Bore and Muntaka Ahmad Ya’akubu.
The Osun State High Court has four candidates: Lasisi Muhammmed Adebayo, Awe Micheal Oludare, Fatimah Adejoke Sodamade and Owolawi Joseph Olukunle, but it has one and that is Adamu Mohammed Jajere, as well as a Kadi for the Sharia Court in the person of Kasim Mohammed Kasim.
The Kaduna State High Court bench has seven nominees and they are Yakubu Bodamasi, Abdullahi Isiaka, Buhari Mohammed Balarabe Bashir Shitu Yusuf, Nana Fatima Mohammed John Aku Ambi and Joyce Asabe Akaa’ahs.
Apart from the seven recommended judges, the NJC also sought the appointment of five Kadis to the Kaduna Sharia Court of Appeal and they are Aminu Ahmad Jumare, Nuhu Mahmud, Murtala Nasir, Abdulrahman Ibrahim and Mahdi Muhammad Suraj.
The Kaduna Customary Court of Appeal will have three judges and they are Dorothy Sim Inwulale, Atung Dorcaas Tabita and Yusuf Yakubu.
The breakdown also showed that the Plateau State Customary Court of Appeal has only one judge in the person of Jettei T. Pekun.
The NJC statement noted that all the recommended candidates would be sworn in after their state governors and state Houses of Assembly approve the recommendations.
