Buhari elevates four justices to Supreme Court

The Chairman of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) which upheld President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term election, Justice Mohammed L. Garba, has been elevated to the Supreme Court.

Justice Garba (from the North-West geo-political zone), who currently serves at the Court of Appeal, is one of  the four Justices of the court recommended by  the National Judicial Council (NJC), at its August 11 and 12 meeting to President Buhari for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court.

The other nominees are Justices Tijjani Abubakar (from the North-East Zone), Justice Abdu Aboki (North-West Zone) and Mohammed M. Saulawa (North-West Zone), according to NJC spokesman, Soji Oye.

Their nomination brings to eight, the number of Court of Appeal Justices recommended for elevation by the NJC within the last 10 months.

The council had, on October 23, 2019, announced its recommendation of Justice Adamu Jauro (North-East Zone), Justice Emmanuel A. Agim (South-South Zone), Justice C. Oseji (South-South Zone) and Justice Helen M. Ogunwumiju (South-West Zone).

The president is yet to confirm their nomination.

The NJC also named 18 others recommended for appointment as judges of other courts.

They are Justice Gumna Kashim Kaigama (recommended for appointment as the Chief Judge of Yobe State);  Kadi Muhammed Abubakar (recommended for appointment as Grand Kadi of Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State) and Justice Mathew Emeka Njoku (recommended as  President, Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State).

The NJC recommended the appointment of six lawyers as judges of the High Court of Kano State.

They are: Jamilu Shehu Suleiman, Maryam Ahmen Sabo, Sanusi Ado Ma’aji, Abdu Maiwada Abubakar, Zuwaira Yusuf and Hafsat Yahaya Sani.

As judges of the High Court of Taraba State, the NJC recommended the appointment of Clara Jummai Kataps and Kazera Blessing Kodiya.

Also recommended are Muhammad Aminu Danube, Mustapha Umar, Muhammad Tukur Rashid and Muhammad Nasir Sidi as Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kaduna State.

The NJC equally recommended the appointment of Gabriel Nkeiruka Dele Okafor, Grace Abanre Ibiye and Jessica Susan Gberevbie as judges of the Customary Court of Appeal, Delta State.

Oye explained that the recommendation of Justice Garba and others will boost the capacity of the apex court.

He noted that the Supreme Court “currently has a total number of 12 Justices, including the Hon. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, consisting of two Justices from North Central, one from the North East, one from North West, three  from South East, one from the South South and three from the South West.”

Oye added that those named in the latest recommendation by he NJC “are expected to be sworn in after approval by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and their respective state governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective state Houses of Assembly.”