NJC Recommends Tanko To Buhari For Appointment As Substantive CJN

The National Judicial Council on Wednesday said  that it has recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari the appointment of Justice Tanko Muhammad as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The NJC said this in a statement by its Director, Information, Mr. Soji Oye, on Wednesday.

The statement recalled that Justice Muhammad was sworn in as the Acting CJN on January 25, immediately after the then CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen was suspended by Buhari.

Soji Oye in the statement said the NJC took the decision to recommend Muhammad for appointment as the substantive CJN at the council’s meeting on Wednesday.

It noted that a member of the council, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, who is a former President of the Court of Appeal, presided over the session of the NJC’s meeting when the recommendation of its Interview Committee that screened two candidates presented by the Federal Judicial Service Commission to it for appointment as CJN was considered and approved.

The statement added that the Acting CJN, Justice Muhammad, who is also the Acting Chairman of the NJC, presided over the plenary of the council when eight successful candidates were recommended to the governors of their states for appointment as Chief Judges and Grand Kadis for their states.

The states are, Ebonyi, Lagos, Anambra, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Kano, and Jigawa.

“Subsequently, the plenary of the Meeting presided over by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, recommended to the Governors of Sokoto, Lagos, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, and Jigawa States, eight (8) successful candidates for appointment as Chief Judges and Grand Kadis for the states.”

“The successful candidates are, Justice Muhammad S. Sifawa, recommended as the Chief Judge of the High Court of the State; the Acting Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, recommended as the Chief Judge of Lagos State; Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu, as Chief Judge of Anambra State; and Justice Nwaigwe A. Anselm as Chief Judge of Ebonyi State.

“The rest are Justice Aliyu M. Mayaki, recommended as Chief Judge of Niger State,

“Justice Filibus B. Andetur, recommended as Chief Judge of Taraba State; Kadi Tijjani Yusuf Yakasai, recommended as the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano State; and Kadi Isa Jibrin Gantsa, recommended as the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa State.”

The NJC’s statement noted that the newly appointed heads of court “will be sworn in after the approval of the President and their respective State Governors and confirmation by the Senate and State Houses of Assembly as the case may be.”

The statement, noted  NJC also acknowledged the notice of retirements of Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judges of Gombe, Edo, Niger, and Ebonyi states, the Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi States as well as those of nine other judicial officers from the Federal High Court, High Courts of Gombe, Delta, Edo, Imo, Benue and Katsina states.