Taiwo POPOOLA
The National Judicial Council, NJC, has forwarded 12 High Court Judges to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal ahead of the litigations that may arise in the 2027 general elections.
The recommendations of the judges to the Presidency for elevation into the intermediary Appellate Court Bench were made by the NJC at its just concluded 111th meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Motomori.
NJC, in a statement on Friday by its Deputy Director of Information, Mrs Kemi Babalola Ogedengbe, said that the Court of Appeal Justices, when appointed, would fill the vacancies at the Court occasioned by the elevation of some to the Supreme Court bench and the retirement of others upon attaining retirement age.
Prominent among the Federal High Court judges sought to be moved to the Court of Appeal are Justices James Kolawole Omotosho and Emeka Nwite, who in recent times handled high-profile political and criminal matters effectively at the Federal High Court bench.
Other High Court judges are Yakubu Mohammed, Abodunde Oluwatoyin, Ajuwa Raphael, Abua Ojie, Ijohor Jennifer, Shuaib Bala, Buba Njana, Kado Sanusi, Adeola Enikuomehin and Dandom Veronica.
They were recommended to President Tinubu after passing through rigorous interviews and were found worthy of being diligent judicial officers of repute in character and performance.
In the same vein, Christine Clement Ende was recommended for appointment to the Benue High Court bench, while Ibrahim Yakubu and Bala Daura were recommended for appointment as Kadi of Katsina Sharia Court of Appeal.
Two other High Court Judges have, however, been penalised for various judicial misconduct in the discharge of their judicial functions.
They are Ibrahim Shekarau of the High Court of Benue state and Edward Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, who were placed on a one-year suspension without pay.
They were found guilty of granting frivolous orders against litigants appearing before them and outright denial of a fair hearing to favour an opposing party.
Similarly, eight other Imo State High Court Judges sent on compulsory retirement lost their battle to have their review and were recalled back into service.
The NJC refused their plea, and they are B. C Iheka, K. A Leaweanya, Okereke Ngozi, Innocent Ibeawuchi, Ofoha Uchenna, Everyman Eleanya, Rosemond Ibe and T. N Nzeukwu.
The NJC had indicted them for fraud for falsifying their ages to enable them to stay longer in service, and they were subsequently retired from the service.
The NJC statement just released by the Deputy Director indicates that 256 Judicial officers were queried for various offences, especially poor performance in the discharge of their duties.
Also, the NJC dismissed 73 petitions filed by some lawyers and litigants against other judicial officers.
The petitions were found to be baseless and without merit, warranting no punishment against any of the judicial officers.
