The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up committees to investigate eight judges of the Federal and State courts over misconduct.
The body which took the decision at its plenary of 105th meeting held on May 15 and 16, 2024, also approved the appointment of 86 Judicial Officers for Federal and State courts.
ChroniclesReporters earlier reported that the NJC issued warning letters to three Judges and barred them from elevation to higher benches for a period between two to three years for abuse of office and misuse of discretionary powers in discharging their duties.
In a statement issued on Friday by the NJC Director of Information, Soji Oye Esq, the Council at the meeting considered two reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the committees.
The petitions against various Judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, sub judice or that they were matters that could be appealed.
The dismissed petitions according to the statement were against Hon Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Hon Justices S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Hon Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Hon Justice Okey Paulinus Aneke, High Court Enugu State and Hon Justice C. Anya of Abia State.
Others are Hon Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, Hon Justices T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo State High Court, Hon Justice Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa State High Court, Hon Justice T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba State, High Justices W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, Hon Justice C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi State.
The Council deliberated on the notification of the retirements of three Judicial Officers including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON and the notification of the death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts.
It read, “Council at the Meeting also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend the under-listed 86 Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria.”
According to the statement, all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective state governors
They are as follows:
1.TWENTY-TWO (22) JUSTICES, COURT OF APPEAL
1.Hon. Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna
2.Hon. Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola
3.Hon. Justice Eleojo Eneche
4.Hon. Justice Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf
5.Hon. Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman
6.Hon. Justice Abdu Dogo
7.Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru
8.Hon. Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani
9.Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar
10.Hon. Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka
11.Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba
12.Hon. Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu
13.Hon. Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi
14.Hon. Justice Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke
15.Hon. Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor
16.Hon. Justice Ntong Festus Ntong
17.Hon. Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi
18.Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette
19.Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo
20.Hon. Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem
21.Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola
22.Hon. Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi
2.TWELVE (12) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, FCT ABUJA
1.Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo
2.Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi
3.Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike
4.Odo Celestine Obinna
5.Hauwa Lawal Gummi
6.Abdurahman Usman
7.Buetnaan Mandy Bassi
8.Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh
9.Maryan Iye Yusuf
10.Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria
11.Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike
12.Munirat Ibrahim Tanko
SEVEN (7) JUDGES, IMO STATE HIGH COURT
Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi
Uchenna Mary Njoku
Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze
Ononogbo Chidi Linus
Adaego Peace Nosiri
Emeka Ozoma Orafu
Mathew Chinedu Ijezie
4. SIX (6) JUDGES, BAUCH STATE HIGH COURT
1.Amin Umar Ilelah
2.Aliyu Bin Idris
3.Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi
4.Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf
5.Abdussalam Idris Waziri
6.Kawu A. Yerima
5.THREE (3) JUDGES, TARABA STATE HIGH COURT
1.Hamidu Audu
2.Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma
3.Joel Daniel Ubandoma
6.THIRTEEN (13) JUDGES, LAGOS STATE HIGH COURT
1.Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru
2.Azeez Fimisola Augusta
3.Alebiosu Olawale Lawal
4.Adewale Russel Musiliu
5.Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose
6.Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed
7.Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade
8.George Alfred Akingbola
9.Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu
10.Shonubi Adenike Kudirat
11.Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola
12.Layinka Oyeladun Amope
13.Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin
7.FOUR (4) JUDGES, KOGI STATE HIGH COURT
1.Ajesola Joseph Sunday
2.Ojoma Rachael Haruna
3.Kadiri Badama
4.Ezema Beatrice Ada
8.TWO (2) JUDGES, JIGAWA STATE HIGH COURT,
1.Mohammad El-Usman
2.Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo
9.FIVE (5) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, BAUCHI STATE
1.Ishaku Magaji
2.Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo
3.Bello Mohammed Sambowal
4.Muhyiddeen Mohammed
5.Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin
10.FIVE (5) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE
1.Muhammad Muhammad Bello
2.Okino Isah Saidu
3.Yakubu Adavenge Abbas
4.Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu
5.Idris Alhaji Abdullahi
11.ONE (1) KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, JIGAWA STATE
1.Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam
12.THREE (3) JUDGES, IMO STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL
1.Everyman Ezenna Eleanya
2.Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna
3.Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi
13.TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE
1.Esther Tata
2.Benjamin Samuila Bawage
14.ONE (1) JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE
1.Maryann Oziohu Otaru