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SEE FULL LIST: NJC Appoints 86 New Judicial Officers
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The National Judicial Council has recommended a total of 86 judicial officers for appointment into federal and state courts across the country.
The recommendations were made by the council’s Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria, during the NJC’s 105th plenary meeting held between May 15 and 16, 2024.
This was revealed in a statement issued by the council’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, dated May 16, 2024, and sighted by PUNCH Online on Friday, May 17, 2024.
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.
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors,” the statement urged.
Below is the full list of the recommendations:
JUSTICES, COURT OF APPEAL – 22
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
JUDGES, HIGH COURT, FCT ABUJA – 12
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
JUDGES, IMO STATE HIGH COURT – 7
Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi
Uchenna Mary Njoku
Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze
Ononogbo Chidi Linus
Adaego Peace Nosiri
Emeka Ozoma Orafu
Mathew Chinedu Ijezie
JUDGES, BAUCH STATE HIGH COURT – 6
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
JUDGES, TARABA STATE HIGH COURT – 3
1.Hamidu Audu
2.Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma
3.Joel Daniel Ubandoma
JUDGES, LAGOS STATE HIGH COURT – 13
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
JUDGES, KOGI STATE HIGH COURT – 4
1.Ajesola Joseph Sunday
2.Ojoma Rachael Haruna
3.Kadiri Badama
4.Ezema Beatrice Ada
JUDGES, JIGAWA STATE HIGH COURT – 2
1.Mohammad El-Usman
2.Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo
KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, BAUCHI STATE – 5
1.Ishaku Magaji
2.Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo
3.Bello Mohammed Sambowal
4.Muhyiddeen Mohammed
5.Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin
KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE – 5
1.Muhammad Muhammad Bello
2.Okino Isah Saidu
3.Yakubu Adavenge Abbas
4.Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu
5.Idris Alhaji Abdullahi
KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, JIGAWA STATE – 1
1.Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam
JUDGES, IMO STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL – 3
1.Everyman Ezenna Eleanya
2.Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna
3.Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi
JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE – 2
1.Esther Tata
2.Benjamin Samuila Bawage
JUDGE, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE – 1
1.Maryann Oziohu Otaru.b
A fresh outbreak of ethnic violence between the Jukun and Tiv communities has erupted in Taraba State, with suspected Jukun militias launching an early-morning attack on Dekeh Village along the Wukari–Kente Road.
According to security sources available to Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
About six armed assailants stormed the village, opening fire indiscriminately and setting 15 huts ablaze. The attack forced residents to flee in panic, leaving behind food items, including yam seedlings, which were destroyed in the blaze.
One resident identified as Mdue Saaondo, sustained gunshot injuries during the assault. He was rescued by a joint team of police and military personnel and transported to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Wukari for medical treatment.
The Taraba State Police Command has launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Authorities have also scheduled a security meeting with the Wukari Local Government Traditional Council as part of efforts to restore peace and encourage dialogue between the Tiv and Jukun communities, who have long-standing disputes over land and territorial claims.
“Patrol and surveillance operations are ongoing to forestall further violence and ensure stability in the area,” police authorities stated.
The incident adds to the growing list of violent clashes that have plagued southern Taraba in recent years, underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the communal tensions.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles booked a place in the quarter-final at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after playing out a 2-2 draw against Kenya.
Aliyu Zubairu’s side finished second in Group B with five points from three games.
The Atlas Cub of Morocco top the group with seven points after beating Tunisia 3-1 at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.
Kenya started the game strongly, and deservedly took the lead after six minutes.
Nigeria defender Emmanuel Chukwu handled the ball inside the box, and after initially awarding a free kick to Kenya, the centre referee pointed to the spot following consultation with VAR.
Captain Kevin Wangaya Colly slotted the ball past Ebenezer Harcourt to give the Rising Stars the lead.
The Flying Eagles fought back seven minutes later with Lillestrøm striker Kparobo Arierhi netting after he was put on through on goal by Simon Cletus.
Nigeria dominated the game in the second half but failed to test the Kenyan goalkeeper.
Kenya took the lead for the second time in the game through substitute William Nwangi on 68 minutes.
Nwangi lashed home Humphrey Kegengo’s free kick from inside the box.
Daniel Bameyi, however, converted from the spot to hand the Flying Eagles a share of the spoils.
United States President Donald Trump has announced a fresh slate of judicial nominees in a series of posts on Truth Social on Tuesday.
The president, who has repeatedly expressed frustration over what he sees as judicial obstruction, followed up on Wednesday with a post criticising the judiciary for allegedly preventing him from carrying out the mandate of the American people.
The Republican leader, whose second-term agenda has encountered multiple judicial roadblocks, wrote: “Our Court System is not letting me do the job I was Elected to do.
“Activist judges must let the [Donald] Trump Administration deport murderers, and other criminals who have come into our Country illegally, WITHOUT DELAY!!!”
Trump named Maria Lanahan, Missouri’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General, as a nominee for a judgeship on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He praised her as “a true patriot” in a post on Tuesday.
The 78-year-old also nominated Judge Cristian Stevens to serve on the same court, describing him in another post as “a Great Patriot.”
The announcements came a day after a federal appeals court declined the Trump administration’s request to revoke temporary legal status from hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Cubans living in the United States.
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