By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has approved the appointment of 22 Justices for appointment to the Court of Appeal.
89 Justices from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) applied for the promotion, but only the 22 were successful .
In a circular signed by the CJN, dated April 2, 2024, and marked FJSC/01/2024 with the tittle, ‘Appointment of 22 justices to the Court of Appeal,’ the new appointees were drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The new Appeal Court Justices were appointed from both the State and Federal High Courts across the six geopolitical zones.
The new Justices include, Justices Polycarp Tema Kwahar (Benue), Ruqayat Ayoola (Kogi), Eneche Eleojo (Kogi), Asmara Akanbi Yusuf (Kwara), Abdullahi Muhammad Liman (Nasarawa) and Abdu Dogo (FCT), North-Central.
North-West, has justices are Ishaq Mohammed Sani (Kaduna), Zainab Bage Abubakar (Kebbi) and Abdulaziz M. Ankara (Zamfara), while For the Northeast, only Justice Fadahu Umaru from Borno State was appointed.
For the Southeast, the new Appellate Court justices are, Nnamdi Okwy Dimga Victoria (Abia) Toochukwu Nwoye (Anambra), Henry Aja-Onu Njoku (Ebonyi), Donatus Uwaezuoke Okorowo (Enugu) and Ngozika N Okaisabor (Imo).
The South-South has Justices Ntong Festus Ntong (Akwa-Ibom), Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi (Edo) and Mrs Nyesom-Wike (Rivers).
The southwest has justices Abiodun Azeem Akinyemi, (Lagos); Justices Abiodun Azeem Akinyemi (Ogun), Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola (Oyo), Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo and Bayo Ademola Taiwo (Oyo).