The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 11 justices to the Supreme Court, including Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein, who signed the controversial judgement in Kano governorship election appeal.
The Court of Appeal had in its November 17 judgement read by Mr Adumein upheld the judgement of the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, declaring APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as winner of the governorship election in the state.
But when the certified true copy of the judgement was released by the court four days after, the court contradicted itself.
In the CTC, duly signed by the three justices, the appellate court set aside the judgement of the tribunal and awarded N1,000,0000 cost in favour of the NNPP and against the APC.
Although the appellate court had dismissed the the contradictory declarations as “clerical errors”, the issue had generated sparked national outrage, with Nigerians calling for probe.
But in a statement issued Wednesday by the NJC’s director of Information, Soji Oye, the council, which is responsible for penalizing erring judges and promoting deserving ones, recommended Mr Adumein for promotion to the nation’s apex court.
Mr Oye said the swearing-in of all recommended candidates to the Supreme Court bench will take place after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approves their recommendation and the Senate confirms their appointment.
According to him, the various heads of court recommended would also be sworn-in upon the approval of their appointment by their various state governors and subsequent confirmation of same by their respective state Houses of Assembly.
The statement read, “The NJC, at its 104th meeting on Wednesday, December 6 considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and at the end of deliberations, recommended the under-listed names of successful candidates as heads of courts and other judicial officers for the Federal and State Courts in Nigeria.”
Those recommended for appointment to the Supreme Court are:
Hon. Justice Jummai Hannatu Sankey, OFR
Hon. Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa
Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme
Hon. Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani
Hon. Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein
Hon. Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya
Hon. Justice Stephen Jonah Adah
Hon. Justice Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru
Hon. Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur
Hon. Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar
Hon. Justice Mohammed Baba Idris
The NJC at its last meeting for the year also recommended the appointment of Justice Mohammed Ramat to the Court of Appeal, as well as six heads of courts and 26 other judicial officers.
The various Heads of Court recommended would also be sworn-in upon the approval of their appointment by their various State Governors and subsequent confirmation of same by their respective State Houses of Assembly.