- FJSC releases 48 nominees for Court of Appeal seats
- Only 12 judges will be appointed after screening
- Public invited to submit integrity based complaints
The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has released the names of 48 judges nominated for possible appointment to the Court of Appeal bench, with only 12 to be eventually selected at the end of the ongoing process.
The list was published in a public notice titled Appointment of 12 Justices to the Court of Appeal Bench: Call for Comments, which appeared in the Saturday edition of ThisDay newspaper.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Kano: ‘I Will Not Abandon Kwankwaso’ – Gov Yusuf’s Aide Resigns
- 5 Health Risks Men Face After Age 40
- CBN to Introduce New Policy to Regulate Debit Card Issuance, ATM Operations
EKO HOT BLOG reports that in the notice signed by the Secretary of the Commission, the FJSC invited members of the public to submit comments on the nominees, as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.
According to the Commission, the list of nominees was forwarded by the Court of Appeal, which initiated the appointment process. At the end of its assessment, the FJSC is expected to recommend 24 candidates to the National Judicial Council.
The NJC will subsequently conduct its own screening exercise, including interviews, before selecting 12 candidates to be recommended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment to the Court of Appeal.
The successful nominees will fill vacant slots for 12 states, namely Benue, Plateau, Gombe, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ekiti, Ogun and Ondo. Each state has four nominees on the initial long list, drawn from judges of State High Courts, the Federal High Court, Customary Courts of Appeal and the National Industrial Court.
Among the nominees is Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who in November last year sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment for terrorism related offences.
Also listed is Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who currently presides over several high profile cases, including the ongoing money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Another notable nominee is Justice Safiya Badamasi Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria serving as a judge of the Katsina State High Court. Senior Advocates rarely seek judicial appointments.
The FJSC said the publication of the names was to enable the public submit written complaints or comments strictly on the integrity, reputation and suitability of the nominees.
All submissions must be in writing, supported by a sworn affidavit, and forwarded to the office of the Secretary of the Commission within 14 days of publication.
The initiative was introduced by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun, at the NJC’s 108th meeting in April 2025, as part of reforms aimed at strengthening public confidence in the judiciary.
Full List Of Nominees:
Benue State: Ibrahim Mohammed, Augustine Ityonyiman, Jennifer Ijohor, Dennis Igyuse.
Plateau State: Jacob Azi Atsen, Veronica Dadom, Stephen Dalyop Pam, Nankwat Dawat Shaseet.
Gombe State: Abdulhameed Mohammed Yakubu, Suleiman Yahaya Abubakar, Mohammed Auwal Haruna, Daurabo Suleiman Sikkam.
Taraba State: Nuhu Adi, Rosemary Kanyip, Danladi Yakubu, Dauda Njane Buba.
Katsina State: Sanusi Kado, Safiya Badamasi Umar, Adam Salihu Yarima, Ibrahim Abubakar Maude.
Kebbi State: Sabiu Bala Shuaibu, Maryam Aliyu Hassan, Abubakar Saddiq Bello, Shamsudeen Jaafar.
Ebonyi State: Vincent Nwanchor, Thelma Adanna Achom, Esther Awo Ota, Emeka Nwite.
Bayelsa State: Raphael Ajuwa, Ebiyerin Goodness Omukoro, Simon Warikiyel Amaduobogha, Patience Zoufa.
Cross River State: Abua Elias Ojie, Emmanuel Ubua, Ukpai Abba, Obo Awusa Oto.
Ekiti State: Monisola Oluwatoyin Abodunde, Jubril Aladejana, Lucas Ogundana, Olusegun Ogunyemi.
Ogun State: James Kolawole Omotosho, Olugboyega Ogunfowora, Yetunde Pinheiro, Olufunke Sule Amzat.
Ondo State: Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay, Orimisan Okorisa, Akinfemi Owoyemi, Ademola Enikuomehin.
