- Approves appointment of 86 others
- Wike’s wife, 21 others elevated to Court of Appeal
From Godwin Tsa Abuja
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has barred three judicial officers from being elevated to the higher bench while giving approval for the appointment of 86 others.
The affected judicial officers are Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court and his brother judge from Delta State High Court, Justice G B Brikins-Okolesi.
The Council under the Chairmanship of the CJN, took the decision at its plenary of the 105th Meeting held on 15 and 16 of May 2024.
It resolved to issue warning letters to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Justice GB Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court as well as put a hold on their elevation for a number of years.
A statement by the NJC Director of Information, Soji Oye, says Justice Ekwo is warned for abuse of the discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in a suit between Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors. He is also barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for two years
On his part, Justice GB Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court on his part, is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgment within stipulated period in Joseph AneneOkafor Vs Skye Bank, after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses. He will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for a period of three years.
The NJC also cautioned Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in a suit when there was no subsisting judgement of any Court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.
The Council at the meeting considered two Reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight Committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees.
The Council 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 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.
Petition against various Judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.
The dismissed petitions were against Hon Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Hon Justices S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Hon Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Hon Justice Okey Paulinus Aneke, High Court Enugu State and Hon Justice C. Anya of Abia State.
Others are Hon Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, Hon Justices T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo State High Court, Hon Justice Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa State High Court, Hon Justice T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba State, High Justices W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, Hon Justice C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi State.
The 22 Judicial officers elevated to the bench of the Court of Appeal are; Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna;
Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola; Justice Eleojo Eneche
4.Hon. Justice Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf; Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman; Justice Abdu Dogo; Justice Fadawu Umaru; Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani; Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar; and
Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka.
The rest are Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba; Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu; Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi;
Justice Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke; Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor;
Justice Ntong Festus Ntong;
Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi; Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette; Justice Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo; Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem; Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola and Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi.