Barring any last minute change, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad will on Friday administer oath of office on Justice John Tsoho as the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
The outgoing Chief Judge of the court, Justice Abdu Adamu Kafarati’s tenure comes to an end at 12 midnight Thursday, July 25, having clocked the mandatory retirement age of 65 years from the High Court bench.
It would be recalled that the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), had last month nominated Justice Tsoho, the next most senior judge of the Federal High Court, to the National Judicial Council (NJC), to succeed Justice Kafarati who clocks 65 years today, Thursday, July 25.
Findings by our correspondent from the Supreme Court registry show that Justice Tsoho’s swearing-in ceremony will take place at the main bowl of the apex court at 10 am on Friday in Abuja.
A staff at the Supreme Court who pleaded not to be named in print, said: “The CJN will on Friday swear-in Justice John Tsoho in an acting capacity as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. You know the outgoing CJ’s tenure (Justice Abdu Kafarati) ends today, after he clocked the mandatory retirement age of 65 years on the High Court bench.
“You know the judiciary does not allow vacuum. So, the next most senior judge will take over immediately. Therefore, the swearing-in programme will take place tomorrow (Friday) in the main bowl of the Supreme Court at 10 am prompt.”
It would be recalled that Justice Kafarati performed some of his last official duties as head of the court few weeks ago when he unveiled the Federal High Court civil procedure rules 2019 as well as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre in Abuja.
Justice Kafarati had said the new rules would enhance speedy and efficient administration of justice.
“When I became the Chief Judge of the the Federal High Court, I made up my mind that I will do all I can to leave a lasting legacy in the history of this great court.
“I constituted a committee made up of judges and some staff of the court to review the Federal High Court civil procedure rules 2009.
“The new Civil Procedure Rules 2019 has now been gazetted, and ready for unveiling. The new rules has introduced a lot of innovations to enhance speedy dispensation of justice.”
Speaking at the commissioning of the project, an arbitration guru, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), had lauded Justice Kafarati for his “innovative leadership” of the court.
Justice Kafarati who was born on July 25, 1954 and hails from Kwami in Gombe State, took over from Justice Ibrahim Auta who retired on September 16, 2017, after he clocked 65 years, was appointed judge on
October 31, 1990.
