News
SANs List Expectations As S’Court Justices Rise To 21
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Monday, swore in 11 new Justices of the Supreme Court, bringing the number of Justices on the apex court bench to 21.
The development was hailed by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who expressed the hope that it would translate to the clearing of the huge backlog of cases at the Supreme Court.
The swearing-in of the 11 Justices comes over two months after they were screened and confirmed by the Senate, acting on the recommendation of President Bola Tinubu.
Before now the number of Justices on the Supreme Court bench went down to an all-time low of 10, as opposed to 21 recommended by the Constitution.
The appointment of an additional 11 Justices, giving the Supreme Court its full complement of Justices, followed agitations and calls from several quarters on the declining manpower at the apex court.
At the swearing-in, which took place at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court in Abuja on Monday, the CJN noted that the 11 new Justices were joining the apex court bench “at a time when the rank had been grossly depleted to an all-time low of 10 Justices for a number of reasons, mainly retirement, and deaths.”
“The inability of the court to meet up the statutory full compliment of 21 Justices had lingered on for too long,” the CJN remarked.
Speaking with The PUNCH, a former Attorney General of Abia State, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), said with the Supreme Court now having its full complement of Justices, “we expect them to crack down on the backlog of cases in that court. That is the expectation of everybody, and it is a legitimate expectation.”
Similarly, human rights lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), said, “It is commendable that we have 21 Justices, but I believe it goes just beyond numbers.”
Adegboruwa said the appointment of the 21 Justices must be complemented with the provision of necessary equipment that would aid justice delivery at the apex court.
He said, “It’s important that there is a paradigm shift that will focus on equipping the Justices with the needed infrastructure and personnel to perform.
“Then limit the number of interlocutory appeals that go to the Supreme Court so that it can properly focus on policy decisions that will give a guideline on serious legal matters.
“Then the quality of the judgment. To avoid matters in which we have conflicting judgments, there’s a need for the Supreme Court to sit down and to exert its previous decisions with the purpose of harmonising seemingly contradictory views that have been expressed by the apex court.”
Meanwhile, the CJN, at the swearing-in of the Justices, charged them to brace up for the work ahead and to be prepared to face criticisms from the public.
He said they must discharge their duty in fairness and uprightness, knowing that they were representatives of God on earth.
Justice Ariwoola said, “See yourselves as the representatives of God on earth because any judgment given at this level can only be overturned in heaven.
“There is no way you can please human beings, especially litigants. The easiest way to fail in life is by trying to please everyone. The only deity you can fear is the Almighty God. Once your judgment is in consonance with what God expects from you, and is also in accordance with the Constitution, you should consider yourself the happiest and freest person on earth.”
The CJN also cautioned the Justices against allowing their ambition to cloud their sense of judgment.
“Your moral uprightness, integrity, and respect for the constitution and other extant laws in operation must be unwavering and unassailable,” he added.
The new Supreme Court Justices are Justices
Jummai Sankey, Chidiebere Uwa, Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, Haruna Simon Tsammani, Moore Adumein, Obande Ogbuinya, and Stephen Adah.
Others are Habeeb Abiru, Jamilu Tukur, Abubakar Umar, and Mohammed Idris.
The Presidency has dismissed ex- Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his renewed declaration to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing his ambition as a recurring political miscalculation that will end in defeat.
Recall that Atiku, in a recent interview with said the 2027 general election would mark his final attempt at the presidency.
However, the Presidency, speaking through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, ridiculed the former vice president’s chances, insisting he was likely to “repeat history” and suffer another electoral loss.
Reacting through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency argued that Atiku’s political trajectory shows a pattern that has repeatedly ended in defeat.
“This Atiku will never learn,” Onanuga said.
He further accused the former vice president of attempting to undermine the informal zoning and rotation understanding between Nigeria’s North and South, which has long influenced presidential politics.
Once again, Abubakar Atiku has put forward a self-serving argument to justify his attempt to disrupt Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement,” Onanuga stated. “In 2023, as a member of the PDP, a party that, like others, practices zoning, Atiku disregarded the established formula and sought to succeed a fellow northerner who had spent eight years in office. His ambition fractured the PDP, leading to his resounding defeat at the polls.”
The Presidency also predicted another electoral loss should Atiku proceed with his 2027 ambition.
“Now, he stands poised to repeat history and face another doom. Another spectacular failure awaits this perennial candidate in the next election,” he added.
Onanuga also referenced Atiku’s recent interview, where the former vice president reiterated his stance on North-South rotation, insisting that the South has held power for longer periods since 1999.
According to him, Atiku’s argument ignored key historical context, particularly the circumstances surrounding the transition following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, which led to former President Goodluck Jonathan completing the tenure.
“He conveniently overlooks the fact that the North’s shorter tenure was due to the untimely death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, which led to President Jonathan’s succession,” Onanuga said. “This accidental breach does not invalidate the power rotation arrangement between the North and the South.”
Reaffirming the Presidency’s position on zoning, he maintained that the South should retain the presidency through 2027.
Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own. All Atiku needs to do is to bury the thought of running again, as it is still the South’s turn in the 2027 election,” he concluded.
Onanuga also made a remark directed at Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, suggesting he distance himself from speculation linking him to a possible coalition arrangement involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following Atiku’s renewed political positioning.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced plans to reduce its workforce by up to 2,000 roles as it moves to address mounting financial challenges.
The broadcaster said it must cut costs by £500 million within the next two years.
Interim Director-General Rhodri Talfan Davies acknowledged that the planned job losses would be difficult for employees but stressed the need to act quickly to stabilise the organisation’s finances.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Media Show, Davies said the broadcaster would spend the coming months determining how to implement the reductions without undermining essential radio, television and online services relied upon by audiences.
He added that further details on how the restructuring would affect BBC operations would be released later in the year.
Speaking on the announcement, the head of the broadcasting union Bectu, Philippa Childs warned that job losses on such a scale would have serious consequences for both staff and the broadcaster’s future.
Again, teenage student kills 4, injures 20 in Turkey school shooting
The BBC currently employs around 21,500 full-time equivalent staff.
In an email to staff on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Davies explained that the organisation is grappling with widening financial gaps due to rising production costs, pressure on licence fee revenue, reduced commercial income and ongoing global economic uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the UK Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, said the BBC, like other institutions, must make tough financial decisions.
Shettima defends N68.30trn 2026 budget, says bigger spending needed for growth
She noted that the broadcaster’s leadership was also exploring commercial opportunities and alternative revenue streams to strengthen its finances.
The restructuring announcement comes ahead of the arrival of incoming Director-General Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, who is set to officially replace departing chief Tim Davie on May 18.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) approved the appointment of Nyesom Wike as a minister in the administration of Bola Tinubu.
Yilwatda made the disclosure on Wednesday during a media chat in Abuja while responding to questions on Wike’s continued membership of the PDP despite serving in an APC-led government.
The APC chairman said Wike’s appointment was not unusual, citing precedents where past administrations appointed opposition figures into key government positions.
He referenced the appointments of Bala Mohammed and Adamu Aliero, who served as ministers of the Federal Capital Territory under previous PDP administrations despite belonging to other parties.
“President Jonathan discovered Bala Mohammed was good enough and brought him from ANPP,” he said.
“Aliero was also appointed by President Yar’Adua from ANPP because of his experience.”
Yilwatda argued that the backlash against Tinubu over Wike’s appointment was unjustified.
“What’s wrong if President Tinubu is doing what two former presidents have done and nobody condemned them?” he asked.
He also pointed to other opposition figures serving in the current administration, including Bianca Ojukwu, noting that criticism appears to be disproportionately focused on Wike.
According to the APC chairman, Wike formally wrote to the PDP’s National Working Committee in 2023 seeking permission to accept the ministerial role.
He said the party granted approval for Wike to serve in the APC-led government.
“Wike wrote the national working committee of PDP before he took the appointment,” Yilwatda said.
“The national working committee of PDP approved that he should come and serve with us.”
Yilwatda maintained that Wike’s role in the Tinubu administration is backed by the PDP, not the APC.
“He is serving with us with the approval of the national working committee of PDP,” he said.
“So, it was PDP that approved that Wike should work with the APC.”
Presidency mocks Atiku over 2027 ambition, calls him serial loser, advises Obi to leave ADC
BBC to fire 2,000 workers to make £500m savings
PDP approved appointment of Wike as minister – APC
-
Opinion9 hours agoWhy PDP Should Pick Dr Olotu Akpodiete as Candidate for Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency
-
News22 hours agoJune Deadline Non-Negotiable, Wike Warns Contractors as FCT Targets Tinubu’s Anniversary For Projects Commissioning(Photos)
-
News20 hours agoInsecurity: Nine feared killed in Benue attack
-
News21 hours agoFinally, NAF releases list of successful candidates
-
Economy20 hours agoNigeria’s Inflation hits15.38% in March
-
Foreign9 hours agoSecond Tragedy in Two Days: Student Gunman Kills Four at Middle School
-
News9 hours agoSenate summons NNPCL leadership over N210tr audit queries
-
News17 hours agoBreaking; Ex-VP Atiku finally vows not to contest after 2027