Five States Get New Chief Judges As NJC Nominates Abba Aji As Supreme Court Justice

The National Judicial Council said on Friday that it has recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari the appointment of new Justice of the Supreme Court.

NJC’s Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, said in a statement that the Council also recommended to the governors of Abia, Benue, Ogun, Oyo and Kwara states, the appointments of heads of courts in their states and other judges.

Oye said the NJC took the decision at its 87th meeting chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on October 3 and 4.

According to him, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, was recommended to Buhari for appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

Approval of Abba-Aji’s appointment by the President will bring the number of Justices on the apex court’s bench to 17.

Oye said the NJC also recommended to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State the appointment of Justice Onuoha Arisa Kalu Ogwe as the Chief Judge of the state.

He said the council also recommended to  Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State the appointment of Justice Aondover Kaka’an as the state’s Chief Judge.

According to him, the council also recommended to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State to approve the appointment of Justice Mosunmola Arinola Dipeolu as the Chief Judge of the state.

Also recommended to Governor Amosun is the appointment of three High Court judges.

The nominees recommended to the governor are Oludayo Oluwabamise Osunfisan, Olusola Stephen Oloyede, and Olatunde Hassan Oyajinmi.

Zakariyah Abdulrasaq was recommended to Governor Ahmed Abdulfatah of Kwara State for appointment as a Kadi of the state’s Sharia Court of Appeal, while Justice Eni Esan was recommended for appointment to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as the President of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal.

“The newly appointed candidates will be sworn-in after the approval of the President and their respective State Governors as the case may be,” Oye said on Friday.

NAN