The National Judicial Council (NJC) led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has barred three judicial officers from being elevated to the higher bench while giving a nod to the appointment of 86 others.
Under the Chairmanship of the CJN, the NJC at its plenary of the 105th Meeting held on 15 and 16 May 2024 resolved to issue warning letters to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Justice GB Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court as well as put a hold on their elevation for a number of years.
A statement by the NJC Director of Information, Soji Oye, says Justice Ekwo is warned for abuse of the discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in a suit between Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors. He is also barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for two years.
Hon. Justice GB Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court on his part, is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgement within stipulated period in Joseph AneneOkafor Vs Skye Bank, after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses. He will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for a period of three years.
The NJC also cautioned Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in a suit when there was no subsisting judgement of any Court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.
The 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.
The Council 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 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.
All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors.
Find below the NJC’s full statement:
PRESS RELEASE
16 May 2024
* 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:
1.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
- 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
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
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
@Law & Society