The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has recommended 12 judges as priority candidates for elevation to the Court of Appeal, forwarding their names to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for consideration and possible appointment.
The development is contained in an official document sighted on Saturday and shared by human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Anselm Odinkalu.
According to the document, the nomination process was initiated by the President of the Court of Appeal, who submitted a total of 48 names to the Commission in line with extant rules requiring the submission of twice the number of available positions. The FJSC was thereafter requested to prune the list and recommend 12 candidates for onward transmission to the NJC.
The document specifically referenced Rule 3(2) of the Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules, which mandates such a process, and noted that the Commission acted pursuant to its constitutional powers under Paragraph 12(a)(iv) of Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended)..
Part of the document reads “Judges nominated by Judicial Officers of Superior Courts in Nigeria. A total of forty-eight names were forwarded by the President of the Court of Appeal to the Commission urging the Commission to approve twelve (12) out of the 48 candidates for onward transmission to the National Judicial Council for consideration and appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal.
“As Rule 3(2) of the Revised National Judicial Council Guidelines and Procedural Rules provides for the submission of double the number of Judicial Officers intended to be appointed…”
“Members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission in exercise of their power vide Paragraph 12(a) (iv) of Part I to the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), as amended, hereby notify the National Judicial Council of their unanimous decision to recommend the following twelve (12) candidates as priority candidates,” the document stated.
The recommended judges, drawn from different states of the federation, include: Bayelsa State: Hon. Justice Raphael Ajuwa; Benue State: Hon. Justice Ijohor M. Jennifer; Cross River State: Hon. Justice Abua Elias Ojie; Ebonyi State: Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite; Ekiti State: Hon. Justice Abodunde M. Oluwatoyin; Gombe State: Hon. Justice Abdulhameed M. Yakubu; and Katsina State: Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado.
Others are Kebbi State: Hon. Justice Sabiu Bala Shuaibu; Ogun State: Hon. Justice James K. Omotosho; Ondo State: Hon. Justice Ademola Enikuomehin; Plateau State: Hon. Justice Veronica Julcit Dadom; and Taraba State: Hon. Justice Dauda Njane Buba.
The recommendations are expected to be considered by the National Judicial Council in line with its procedures for judicial appointments.
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