List: NJC Approves 35 Candidates For Judges' Roles, Recommends Justice Oyewole for S'Court
- The National Judicial Council has recommended Justice Joseph Oyewole for elevation to the Supreme Court, alongside 35 others, for various judicial offices nationwide
- The approved candidates include High Court judges, Kadis for Sharia Courts of Appeal, and judges for Customary Courts of Appeal across several states
- The NJC reaffirmed that all appointments followed a rigorous, merit-based process
Legit.ng's Muslim Muhammad Yusuf is a 2025 Wole Soyinka Award-winning journalist with over 8 years of experience in investigative reporting, human rights, politics, governance and accountability in Nigeria.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, Joseph Oyewole, for appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The recommendation was made alongside those of 35 other candidates for various judicial offices across the country during the Council’s 110th meeting held on Wednesday and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Source: Twitter
The decisions were disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the NJC Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
Justice Oyewole, who currently heads the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, was the only judicial officer recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court.
He is from Osun State but began his judicial career on the Lagos State High Court bench.
State High Court, Sharia and Customary Court Appointments
According to the PREMIUM TIMES, the Council also approved 27 candidates for appointment as Judges of State High Courts across seven states.
The approved number includes six judges each for Borno and Plateau states, five for Ekiti, four each for Niger and Delta, and one each for Taraba and Benue states.
In addition, the NJC recommended six Kadis for appointment to the Sharia Courts of Appeal, with three allocated to Niger State, two to Taraba State and one to Katsina State.
The Council further approved the appointment of two Judges to the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.
According to the NJC, all recommendations followed a rigorous screening process, which included public input, background checks and interviews conducted by a seven-member Interview Committee, in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.
“These recommendations followed a rigorous screening process, including the consideration of public complaints and interviews conducted by a seven-member Interview Committee,” the statement said.
NJC Addresses Integrity Screening Controversy
The Council’s clarification comes amid recent public controversy over claims that dozens of judicial nominees were disqualified through a purported “integrity test”.
On January 1, the NJC had denied media reports suggesting that 34 lawyers were dropped from consideration for appointment as judges of the Federal High Court after failing an integrity screening.
In a statement issued earlier and shared with PREMIUM TIMES, the Secretary of the NJC, Ahmed Saleh, described the reports as inaccurate and unauthorised, stressing that they did not reflect what transpired during the judicial appointment process.
Saleh clarified that the processes referenced in the reports were conducted entirely by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and not by the NJC, adding that the Council had not taken any decision on the candidates mentioned at the time.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the processes referenced in the report were conducted entirely at the level of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, and no decision or action has yet been taken by the National Judicial Council in respect of the candidates concerned,” he said.
The NJC further explained that while some candidates were discontinued at the FJSC stage due to adverse findings arising from petitions, others failed to attain the qualifying scores required to proceed to the interview stage.
It rejected claims that a new or stand-alone integrity test was introduced, noting that judicial appointments follow a long-established, merit-based process involving written examinations, background checks, consideration of petitions and structured interviews.
Source: Twitter
Imo Acting Chief Judge’s Tenure Extended
At the meeting, the Council also approved a three-month extension of the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, I. O. Agugua.
The NJC urged the Imo State governor to immediately commence the process of constituting the State Judicial Service Commission to enable the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge.
It stressed that the prompt appointment of a substantive Chief Judge is essential for ensuring stability, protecting judicial independence and promoting the effective administration of justice in the state.
Full list of candidates
Below is the full list of the NJC recommended candidates.
Supreme Court
- Hon. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole
Six High Court Judges for Borno State
- Mustapha, Mallam Babagana
- Mustapha, Hadiza Grema
- James, Peter Bwala
- Zannah, Tijjani Babakura
- Alkali, Alhaji Umar
- Dunoma, Yahaya Alhaji
Six High Court Judges for Plateau State
- Maikai, Andrawus
- Kparbong, Tongret Nanman
- Nkwap, Diane Ngummai
- Mantu, John Ishaku
- Bature, Gavou Musa
- Mallan, Kingsley Mangai
Five High Court Judges for Ekiti State
- Adegoke, Olanike Caroline
- Bamise, Julius Sunday Bamidele
- Ajibare, Julius
- Akinyede, Stephen Rotimi
- Anoma, Adefunke Helen
Four High Court Judges for Niger State
- Abubakar, Adamu
- Ahmed, Bala Ndajiwo
- Gambo, Sa’adatu Abubakar
- Wushishi, Sulaiman Buhari
Four High Court Judges for Delta State
- Otite, Jonah Akporuaro
- Sam-Oligida, Jereoma
- Ukuli, Boeye Irene
- Adamidenyo, Otome Benjamin
One High Court Judge for Taraba State
- Babagari, Mansura Mohammed
Three Kadis for Sharia Court of Appeal, Niger State
- Aboki, Usman Abdulrahman
- Mohammed, Ya’aba
- Muhammad, Nasir Ibrahim
Two Kadis for Sharia Court of Appeal, Taraba State
- Yakubu, Muhammad
- Aliyu, Yahaya Abubakar
One Kadi for Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State
- Mutawakkil, Mustapha Salis
Two Judges for Customary Court of Appeal, Delta State
- Ojeikere, Bridget Onome
- Okah, Stella Ovuorieroro
NJC Retires 10 Judges
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Imo state judiciary has experienced a major shakeup as the NJC compulsorily retired 10 judges from the state.
According to the commission, nine of the judges were retired over allegations of age falsification, while one was retired for allowing himself to be sworn in as chief judge without proper authorisation.
The NJC investigative report indicated that the state's acting chief judge allowed himself to be sworn in when he was the fourth in the hierarchy
Source: Legit.ng
