The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette of the Rivers State High Court, who is the wife of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and eighty-five other judicial officers for elevation to various federal and state courts across the country.
Also, the daughter-in-law of the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria was nominated for appointment as a Judge of the High Court, Federal Capital Territory at a meeting presided over by her father-in-law, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola
These recommendations were made during the NJC’s 105th plenary meeting held on May 15 and 16, 2024, by the council’s Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria.
The list includes appointments to the Court of Appeal, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Sharia Courts of Appeal, and the Customary Courts of Appeal in Nigeria.
22 high court judges are to be moved to the Court of Appeal and include Kwahar Polycarp, Terna, Ruqayat Oremei Ayool Eleojo Eneche, Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf, Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, Abdu Dogo, Fadawu Umaru, Ishaq Mohammed Sani, Zainab Bage Abubakar and Abdulazeez M. Anka.
The rest are Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu, Nwabunkeonye Onwosi, Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke, Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor, Ntong Festus Ntong, Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi, Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette, Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo, Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem, Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola and Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi.
The NJC recommended 12 persons for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and they are Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo, Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi, Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike, Odo Celestine Obinna, Hauwa Lawal Gummi, Abdurahman Usman, Buetnaan Mandy Bassi, Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh, Maryan Iye Yusuf, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike and
Munirat Ibrahim Tanko
Seven nominees were made for Imo State High Court and are Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi,
Uchenna Mary Njoku, Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze, Ononogbo Chidi Linus,Adaego Peace Nosiri, Emeka Ozoma Orafu and
Mathew Chinedu Ijezie.
The six nominees recommended for the Bauchi State High Court bench include Amin Umar Ilelah, Aliyu Bin Idris, Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi, Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf, Abdussalam Idris Waziri and Kawu A. Yerima.
Taraba State High Court has three nominees comprising Hamidu Audu, Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma and Joel Daniel Ubandoma.
The 13 Judges nominees for Lagos high court bench are Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru, Azeez Fimisola Augusta, Alebiosu Olawale Lawal, Adewale Russel Musiliu, Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose, Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed, Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade, George Alfred Akingbola, Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu, Shonubi Adenike Kudirat, Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola, Layinka Oyeladun Amope and Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin.
Those picked for the Kogi State High Court bench are Ajesola Joseph Sunday, Ojoma Rachael Haruna, Kadiri Badama and Ezema Beatrice Ada while the two for Jigawa High Court are Mohammad El-Usman and Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo.
Five Kadis were recommended for Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal and are Ishaku Magaji, Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo, Bello Mohammed Sambowal, Muhyiddeen Mohammed and Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin,
The five for the Kogi State Sharia Court of Appeal comprised Muhammad Muhammad Bello, Okino Isah Saidu, Yakubu Adavenge Abbas, Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu and Idris Alhaji Abdullahi
while one for the Jigawa Sharia Court of Appeal is Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam.
Imo State Customary Court of Appeal has three nominees and they are Everyman Ezenna Eleanya, Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna and Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi while the two for Taraba State are Esther Tata and Benjamin Samuila Bawage.
Maryann Oziohu Otaru is the only nominee for the Kogi State Customary Court of Appeal.
The recommendations will be sent to the President and the respective state governors for approval.
A statement on Friday by the NJC Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye said all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors.
Upon approval, the recommended judicial officers will be sworn into their new positions.
