Headline

22 Justices Via for 11 Supreme Court Vacant Seats As NJC Considers List

Published

10 months ago

November 17, 2023

Eric

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has received a list of 22 nominees for 11 vacant openings on the Supreme Court bench.

The NJC is expected to pick 11 deserving candidates from the list and forward same to President Bola Tinubu, who shall appoint them to the Supreme Court bench, although, subject to Senate confirmation.

Many news platforms, including Channels Television, reported Thursday that the list was sent to the NJC by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

The FJSC is responsible for conducting some of the earliest steps in the process of appointment of judges for federal courts. The various states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have their analogous bodies carrying out equivalent roles.

The involvement of either the federal or state judicial commission begins after the head of the court that is in need of judges declares vacancies on the court’s bench.

Those interested in the positions indicates their interest by getting recommendation letters from justices and other relevant officials in the justice sector.

FJSC then reviews the applications by checking for eligibility of the applicants in terms of professional records and geographical zone of origin, and interviews them, to prune down the number.

At the end of the process, FJSC sends a list of nominees, double of the number of the openings on the court’s bench, to the NJC.

The court, with 10 justices currently, has 11 vacancies that need to be filled for the court to have its full complement of 21 justices. The court has never attained the feat of having its full complement of justices.

The FJSC list that emerged on Thursday is made up of names of 22 judges of the Court of Appeal seeking to be elevated to the Supreme Court bench.

They are from different geo-political zones of the country. The various zones have varying number of nominees on the list, depending on how many representatives they currently have on the Supreme Court bench.

Currently, only four of the six geo-political zones are represented on the Supreme Court bench. While South-west and North-east have three each, South-south and North-west have two each.

Both the South-east and North-central have zero each. The two zones lost their last representatives on the Supreme Court bench with the retirement of Dattijo Muhammad from Niger State, North-central, in October, and the death of Centus Nweze from Enugu State, South-east, in July.

This accounts for why the two zones with no representatives on the bench has the highest number of nominees on the FJSC list.

Both zones – South-east and North-central – have six each.North-east has two, North-west four, South-West two, and South-south had two.

The nominees are made up of priority candidates, with each having their reserve candidates listed next to them.

After conducting its appointment process which includes interviews, NJC is expected to pick 11 names which it will recommend to the President, who will, in turn, transmit same to the Senate for screening.

It is almost certain for nominees indicated as priority candidates will make NJC’s list to be recommended to the President.

Each reserved candidate is on the list as a possible quick replacement should there be any need to drop the priority candidate.

Below is the list of the nominees with their states and zones of origins:

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)

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

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Headline

Edo Election: Police Acting in Interest of APC, Says Obaseki

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2024

Eric

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called out the Nigerian Police Force, saying they are working in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the buildup to the 2024 Edo Governorship Election. He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the Peace Accord for the September 21 election.

The accord is an official agreement among political parties to be of good conduct before, during and after election.

Obaseki said the agency, the Police, responsible for enforcing the accord, have through their actions, shown that they are acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP.

He expressed worry that “the Police under the manipulation of the APC, has arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains, who they perceived would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election.”

The governor who spoke when he received the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar said those arrested include a serving Local Government chairman, Hon. Collins Aigbogun.

He stated that the party chieftains were arrested and whisked to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Obaseki queried: “how do one enters a peace accord with an umpire who, from the onset has shown bias in favour of one of the parties in the election.”

He added: “you are very conversant with the politics of Edo State. You were here in 2020 and we had a very heated election. You know this is an off-circle election and there is a lot of attention.

“Unlike 2020, I am very worried with the developments in the State today. The party met yesterday and we might not likely sign this agreement.

“The opposition party in the State, the APC has always argued that they may not be as popular and didn’t win in the last election, but however promised to use Federal might to determine the outcome of the election.”

He added: “We thought it’s just rhetoric. But in the last four weeks, we’ve had a situation where from the office of the IGP, armed gang policemen have come into Edo State to invade, arrest and take away PDP members.”

Headline

Ighodalo Ridicules APC’s Okpebholo, Says Edo Can’t Risk Having Illiterate As Governor

Published

5 days ago

September 11, 2024

Eric

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has advised the electorate against voting an illiterate as the next governor.

Making a veiled reference to the gaffe by the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship hopeful, while addressing a crowd on Monday, said: “Edo doesn’t need an illiterate who will bring insecurity to the state”.

Ighodalo, who spoke at the Olua Primary School field, Uselu, venue of the PDP campaign rally in the Egor Local Government Area, pledged to bring out the best in the youth by harnessing their potential in a positive way for the good of all.

He said: “We will work and bring out the creative potential of our youths in a way that will benefit all. We don’t need an illiterate who will bring insecurity.

“It’s time to move forward. Ogie (his running mate) and I are very ready to work for you all. So, don’t fear, don’t worry, we’re for you all. Prosperity has come for all. Just go out on the 21st and vote early and protect your votes.”

Also speaking, Governor Godwin Obaseki said he had done his best for the state and that Ighodalo and Ogie would continue when he hands over to them.

He added: “I have done my best. Ighodalo and Ogie will continue from 12 November. We want progress. We want to move forward and not backward. Looking at the people here, you see a lot of youths. I am not surprised because Egor is home to youths. We have the University of Benin and the Benin Technical College.

Headline

Ajaero: Amnesty Int’l Accuses Tinubu of Setting Record of Impunity

Published

6 days ago

September 9, 2024

Eric

Global rights group, Amnesty International, has condemned the arrest and detention of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said with the attack on Ajaero, President Bola Tinubu is setting a new record of impunity.

Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Aiport in Abuja on Monday on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment, the NLC said.

The NLC president was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins today (Monday).

Sanusi said: “Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.

“The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.

“President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC, through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop.

“President Tinubu is setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law.

“Amnesty International has observed, in the last one year, the increasing crackdown by the Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space. The authorities continue to weaponize the police and SSS to repress the human rights of Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including trade union membership and activities. The country is also a member of the International Labour Organization, whose fundamental principles include the right to organize, are binding on all members.”

“Under international human rights law workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.

“Joe Ajaero is arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and must be immediately and unconditionally released,” Sanusi concluded in a statement.