The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has nominated twenty-two Justices from the Court of Appeal for potential elevation to the Nigerian Supreme Court. This list, submitted by President Bola Tinubu, has been forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for endorsement and recommendation.
A document from the FJSC released on Thursday unveiled the names of the nominees. Among them is Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, formerly the chair of the now-disbanded Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC).
The nominations exhibit a regional balance, with the North-Central having six, the South-East and South-South each having two, while the North-East and South-West have two nominees each. This move follows the recent retirement of Justices Amina Augie and Mohammed Dattijo, leaving the Supreme Court with only ten serving Justices.
Interestingly, some nominees have been labeled ‘Priority’ while others are tagged ‘Reserve.’ This classification implies that ‘reserve’ nominees are alternates in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
The list includes:
SOUTH-EAST:
1. Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Abia State) – Priority
1A. Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Abia State) – Reserve
2. Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Ebonyi State) – Priority
2A. Hon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Imo State) – Reserve
3. Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu State) – Priority
3A. Hon Justice Chioma Nwosu-lheme (Imo State) – Reserve
SOUTH-SOUTH:
1. Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Bayelsa State) – Priority
1A. Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Rivers State) – Reserve
SOUTH-WEST:
1. Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Lagos State) – Priority
1A. Hon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Osun State) – Reserve
NORTH-CENTRAL:
1. Hon Jummai Sankey (Plateau State) – Priority
1A. Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau) – Reserve
2. Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Kogi State) – Priority
2A. Hon. Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Nassarawa State) – Reserve
3. Hon Justice Baba Idris (Niger State) – Priority
3A. Hon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Benue State) – Reserve
NORTH-EAST:
1. Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi State) – Priority
1A. Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Adamawa State) – Reserve
NORTH-WEST:
1. Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa State) – Priority
1A. Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Zamfara State) – Reserve
2. Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi State) – Priority
2A. Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Kano State) – Reserve