The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended 36 high court judges for appointment in the country.
Chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the decision was taken at its 107th meeting held on November 13 and 14, 2024.
Statements posted on the X and NJC website on Friday indicated that the candidates have been nominated for judicial appointments across various states, only awaiting approval from the respective state governors.
The recommendations include High Court judges, Sharia Court Kadis, and Customary Court judges across multiple states.
Recall that at the 106th meeting in August, the council reccomended Kekere-Ekun, alongside 28 other judges.
The NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, in a statement added that the 36 judges recommended for appointments are from Oyo, Kebbi, Sokoto and Akwa Ibom states.
Ogedengbe noted that the National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun made the recommendation at its 107th Meeting of November 13 and 14, 2024.
Those recommended for appointment are as follows:
Eight Judges for High Court, Oyo State namely Opayinka, Adeniyi Gabriel; Oyediran, Oloyede Semiu; Oladejo, Olusoji Moses; Ademola-Salami, Oluwaseun Toluwanimi; Adesina, Jimoh Adam; Adekunle, Yemi Saubana; Adepoju, Olutola Jolade Adenike and Muraina, Olayemi Rasaq.
Four Judges for High Court in Kebbi State are: Muhammad, Kwaido Hassan; Ibrahim, Umar Halima; Jagwadeji, Suru Lauratu and Muhammad, Nuruddeen.
Seven Judges for High Court in Sokoto State are: Haruna, Dogondaji Mariya; Sahabi, Jaredi Hadiza; Ahmad, Sha’aibu; Hassan, Fatima; Mohammed, Sa’idu Fatima; Muhammad, Nura Bello and Moyi, Abubakar.
Six Judges for High Court in Akwa Ibom State are: Ekanem, James Bassey; Umohandi, Mfon Winifred; Essien, Bassey Iwakaowo; Morrison, Henry Comfort; Ntekim, Edet Ekpo and Eddie, Julius Sharon.
They also include candidates for Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Kebbi and Sokoto, as well as Judges for the Customary Court of Appeal in Oyo State.
Seven Kadis recommended for the Sharia Court of Appeal in Sokoto State are: Muhammad, Abdulazeez Yar’Abba; Lawal, Isa Abubakar; Bello, Sokoto Ibrahim; Imam, Abubakar Bello; Muhammad, Abibu Lawal; Ibrahim, Bodinga Umar; Kabiru, Marnona Umar.
Two Kadis recommended for the Sharia Court of Appeal Kebbi State are: Aliyu, Kabir, SAN; Bello, Muhammad Atiku.
Two Judges recommended for the Customary Court of Appeal in Oyo State are Oyediran, Safiya Amope; Ojekunle, Ojeyemi Ademola.
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors,” Ogendengbe added.