A follow-up to NJC recommends 11 Justices to the Supreme Court (Photos)

Section 230 (2)a,b of the 1999 CFRN provides that the Supreme Court of Nigeria shall consist of (a) The Chief Justice of Nigeria (b) Such number of Justices of the Supreme Court, not exceeding Twenty One as may be prescribed by act of National Assembly.

If all nominees scale through the Screening and confirmation from the Senate, this will be the first time there will be a full Court.

The Apex Court already have 10 Judges: CJN Kayode Ariwoola (Oyo); Justices Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (Lagos), Inyang Okoro (Akwa Ibom), Uwani Abba Aji (Yobe), Mohammed Garba (Zamfara), Helen Ogunwumiju (Ondo), Ibrahim Saulawa (Katsina), Adamu Jauro (Gombe), Tijjani Abubakar (Yobe) & Emmanuel Agim (Cross River).


A PROFILE ON THE JUDGES NOMINATED FOR ELEVATION TO THE SUPREME COURT

1. HON. JUSTICE JUMMAI HANNATU C SANKEY OFR
Born on 16th January 1959, she hails from Du in Jos South LGA of Plateau State.

Justice Sankey began her educational career at the Latimer Nursery School in London and St. Anne's Primary Boarding School, Kaduna.
She attended secondary education at Queen Amina College, Kaduna, and later St. Louis College, Jos, Plateau State.

She studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and graduated in 1979, before proceeding to the Nigeria Law School for her BL in 1980.

She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Plateau State on 08th October, 1993 and later elevated to the Appeal Court on June 08, 2006.

Some of the cases handled by Justice Sankey
- Presided over a 5-man panel that overturned the tribunal decision and re-affirmed Gboyega Oyetola as Governor of Osun State in 2019.

-Presided over the panel that affirmed Francis Nwifuru as duly elected Governor of Ebonyi State in 2023.

- Presided over the Appeal Court panel that dismissed the petition of James Faleke, and affirmed the election of Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in 2016.

- Presided over the Appeal Court panel that unanimously freed and ordered the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on October 13, 2022.

Her father, Lt Col. James Yakubu Gyang Pam was Adjutant-General of the Nigerian Army, before his murder during the coup of 15th January 1966, Jummai turned 7 the next day.

Her mother, Elizabeth Pam (nee Anti Daniel) was a member of the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel) set up by the Obasanjo administration in the year 2000, to investigate human rights abuses dating back to the military coup of 15th January 1966 till 28th May 1999, the day before the last military handover to civilians.

Her husband, Professor Yakubu Sankey, a former Ag DG of the NIPSS was brutally murdered when terrorists stormed his Zango-Kataf home on 24th May 2023.

She is currently the President, National Association of Women Judges in Nigeria (NAWJN), and was conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in May this year.

She is ranked 4th in the Seniority list of the Appeal Court.

2. HON JUSTICE CHIDIEBERE NWAOMA UWA
Born on 26th October 1958, she hails from Ovuoji in Isiala-Ngwa South LGA of Abia State.

Justice Uwa began her educational career at the Araromi Primary School and later completed her Primary Education at the Westlands Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya.

She attended the University of Nairobi and completed her Law degree at the University of Buckingham, London in 1982.

She proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for her BL in 1983.

She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Abia State on 04th November 1998 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on July 18, 2006.

Recently, Justice Uwa presided over the panel that re-affirmed PDP's Bala Mohammed as Governor of Bauchi State.

Her husband, Engr. Uzoma Ukaegbu, died on 17th June 2020. They shared four children together.

She is 7th in the Seniority list of the Court of Appeal.

3. HON. JUSTICE CHIOMA EGONDU NWOSU-IHEME
Justice Nwosu-Iheme was born in Port Harcourt on 02nd February 1959. She hails from Nkwerre LGA of Imo State.

She began her educational career at the Methodist Primary School, Ogui, Enugu and completed primary school during the Nigerian Civil War at St. Paul’s Primary School, Nkwerre. Her secondary education and Higher School education was at St. Catherine’s Girls’ Secondary School, Nkwerre and later Idia College, Benin respectively.

She obtained her LL.B at the University of Lagos in 1981 before proceeding to the Nigeria Law School for her BL the following year. She started her legal career in the law firm of S. N. Nwala & Co in Aba, Abia State between 1982-1983.

She joined the Ministry of Justice Imo State as a State Counsel, and rose up to the rank of Senior State Counsel between 1983-1986, joined the Magisterial Bench in 1986, and rose up to the rank of Chief Magistrate in 1993.

She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Imo State on 13th November 1995.

- Justice Nwosu-Iheme cut her teeth at the Judiciary when she handled the case involving the ritual murder and beheading of a groundnut seller, Okoronkwo that took place at the "infamous" Otokoto Hotel in 1996.

In February 2003, she sentenced all 7 suspects to death by hanging, an order that was partially carried out.

In 2021, she upturned the tribunal decision and sacked Stephen Odey as Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District. She affirmed PDP's Jarigbe Agom as the valid Candidate and winner.

She also overturned a High Court decision and affirmed Chukwuma Soludo as the valid Governorship Candidate of the APGA in 2021.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme obtained an LL.M in 1991 and later a PhD from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1998, Nigeria's first female Judge to do so.

She was abducted in October 2019 and remained in captivity for 2 weeks until her release. A similar situation happened to her son who was kidnapped in Owerri in 2010.

She is married to Chris Uzoma, a former Commissioner for Education in Imo State and blessed with a daughter and four sons, one of whom is married to a Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Njideka, daughter of a retired Supreme Court Judge, Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili.

In 2005, she was one of 27 ad litem judges elected for a four-year term by the United Nations General Assembly at its 59th Session to oversee the International tribunal mandated to prosecute and try persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the former Yugoslavia since 1991.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme was elevated to the Appeal Court on 15th February 2008 and is ranked 8th in the Seniority list of the Appeal Court.

4. HON. JUSTICE HARUNA SIMON TSAMMANI
Born on 23rd November 1959, he hails from Tafawa-Balewa LGA of Bauchi State.

Tsammani began his educational career at the LEA Primary School in his home LGA and later Government Secondary School, Maiduguri. He obtained his LL.B degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1982 and attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL in 1983.

He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Bauchi State on 17th September 1998 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on July 16, 2010.

Some cases handled by Justice Tsammani

-He presided over the VAT case between the Rivers State Govt and the FG, granting a Stay of Execution filed by the FG against the Rivers & Lagos State Governments.

-He prepared the judgement in Ajimobi v Balogun, affirming the election of PDP's Kola Balogun as Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in 2019.

-In July 2020, he read the lead Judgement dismissing the petition filed by Musa Atayi Wada (PDP) and re-affirming APC's Yahaya Bello as winner of the 2019 Kogi State Governorship Election.

-He chaired the Appeal Court panel that overturned the FCT High Court decision and affirmed the Local Government Congresses conducted by the Ganduje-faction against that of the Shekarau-led G7 faction in an APC internal wrangling earlier last year.

-In 2022, he granted the Stay of Execution filed by the FG, suspending the release of Nnamdi Kanu after another Appeal Court panel had discharged and freed the IPOB leader.

Justice Tsammani served as Chairman of the 5-man Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) in 2023. If confirmed he follows a list of Chairmen of PEPTs who were all elevated to the Supreme Court; Dahiru Musdapher in 1999 who later became CJN, Francis Fedore Tabai in 2007, Bayang Akaahs in 2011 and Mohammed Garba in 2019.

He was conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023.

He is ranked 11th in the Seniority list of the Court of Appeal.

5. HON JUSTICE MOORE ASEIMO ABRAHAM ADUMEIN
Born in Lagos on 06th May 1964, he hails from Bayelsa State.

Adumein attended the Local Authority School in Aiyetoro, Ajegunle for his Primary Education and then the Awori-Ajeromi Grammar School and Federal Government College, Lagos for his secondary education. He obtained his LL.B degree from the University of Lagos in 1984 and attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL in 1985.

He also obtained a University of Hong Kong Post Graduate Certificate in Corruption Studies in 2004.

He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Bayelsa State in November 2001 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on July 16, 2010.

He has served as Presiding Justice in several Judicial Divisions of the Court.

He chaired the Appeal Court Panel that dismissed the petition of Jeremiah Useni (PDP) and unanimously re-affirmed APC's Simon Lalong as Governor in 2019.

He also chaired the panel, wrote and read the lead judgement in the controversial Kano electoral dispute between Abba Yusuf v APC in November 2023. The panel unanimously affirmed the tribunal decision upholding the APC Candidate (Gawuna) as winner.

He is ranked 16th in the Seniority list of the Court of Appeal.

Congratulations

The justice system in Nigeria needs more than

hopefully they will do justice within the points of the law.

6. HON JUSTICE OBANDE FESTUS OGBUINYA, CON
Born on 16th June 1965, he hails from Umuogudu Akpu Ngbo in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State.

Justice Ogbuinya began his educational career at the State Primary School, Oriaja, Ngbo and his secondary education at the Uga Boys’ Secondary School, UGA, Anambra State.

He obtained a Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1988 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL in 1989.

He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Ebonyi State on 21st May 2002 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on 30th November 2010.

He served as a member, Governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly Election Petition tribunals in Edo, Ekiti and Lagos States.

-In 2020, Justice Ogbuinya read the lead judgement that nullified the tribunal decision and affirmed Duoye Diri as duly elected Governor of Bayelsa State.

- In 2016, Ogbuinya was the only Judge who dissented on the declaration of Yahaya Bello as Governor of Kogi State in a suit brought by Idris Wada (PDP). He annulled the election in his minority judgement.

-In 2011, Justice Ogbuinya was a member of the 5-man Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) that dismissed the suit of CPC's Muhammadu Buhari, and re-affirmed Goodluck Jonathan as duly elected.

The learned jurist was conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.

Justice Ogbuinya is married to Dr Nkiru Edith, a Senior Lecturer at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike.

He is ranked 17th in the Seniority list of the Appeal Court

7. HON JUSTICE STEPHEN JONAH ADAH
Born on 13th June 1957, he hails from Dekina LGA of Kogi State.

Adah obtained his LL.B degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1981. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL in 1982.

He was appointed a Judge of the Federal High Court on 12th November 1998 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on November 05, 2012.

He served as a member of the three-man panel that granted Obi and Atiku’s motions to serve Tinubu their petitions by substituted means..

Adah led the panel that affirmed Ifeanyi Ubah as a Senator after his sack over alleged certificate forgery.

He also led the panel that affirmed Valentine Ozigbo as the PDP Guber Candidate for the Anambra Governorship Election.

Justice Adah was a member of the 5-man Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) who nullified the petitions of the PDP & LP, thereby re-affirming President Bola Tinubu as duly elected and returned.

He is ranked 21st in the Seniority list of the Court of Appeal.

8. HON JUSTICE HABEEB ADEWALE OLUMUYIWA ABIRU
Born on 17th October 1964, he hails from Ikorodu LGA of Lagos State.

He began his educational career at the Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos before completing his secondary education at Ereko Methodist School and later on at the Federal Government College in Warri.

Justice Abiru obtained a Bachelor of Law's degree at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, then proceeded to the The Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his B.L in 1985.

He began his legal career at Talabi & Co, other firms before his appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on 22nd May 2001.

He was elevated to the Appeal Court on November 05, 2012.

Justice Abiru prepared the judgement that overturned the sacking of LP's Ngozi Okolie representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.

Justice Abiru is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators Fellow (FCArb), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) Member (MCIArb) and holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the OAU, Ile-Ife.

He is No 22 in the Seniority list of the Appeal Court.

9. HON JUSTICE JAMILU YAMMAMA TUKUR
Born on 07th April 1960, he hails from Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State.

Justice Tukur began his educational career at the Dudi Primary School, Malumfashi, Katsina State and later Government Secondary School, Malumfashi, Katsina State.

He obtained his LL.B degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1982. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL in 1983.

He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of the FCT on 4th April 2007 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on 24th March, 2014.

Justice Tukur was a member of the Appeal Court panel that unanimously nullified the election and return of all Candidates of the APC in Zamfara State in 2019.

He read the lead judgement affirming the N50 million fine imposed on Senator Elisha Abbo following the assault of Ms Osimibibra Warmate at a intimacy gadget shop in Abuja.

He also read the lead judgement invalidating the powers of LASTMA to impose fines/penalties on traffic offenders.

He is ranked No 41 in the Seniority list of the Court of Appeal.

10. HON JUSTICE SADIQ ABUBAKAR UMAR
Justice Umar was born on February 22, 1960 in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State.

He began his educational career at Mallam Salihu Primary School Koko, Central Primary School, Birnin-Kebbi and his secondary education at the Government Secondary School, Kamba in 1977.

He obtained a degree in Law in 1983 from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and was at the Nigerian Law School in 1984. He was employed as State Counsel, Sokoto State Ministry of Justice in 1985 and became Assistant Director, Civil litigation in 1993.

He later became the Director, Legal Drafting in the state in 1996. Umar was appointed Deputy Chief Registrar, Court of Appeal in 1997 and became the court’s Chief Registrar in 2002.

He was appointed a judge of the High Court of the FCT in 2003, where he served until his elevation to the Court of Appeal on 22nd June 2018.

Justice Umar prepared and read the judgement nullifying the High Court decision for marriage contracts to only be recognised at the Registries in Ikoyi and the FCT. He held that the Ministry of Interior and the Local Government Councils are entitled to contract, celebrate, conduct and register Marriages.

He is ranked 49th in the Seniority list of the Appeal Court.

11. HON JUSTICE MOHAMMED BABA IDRIS
Born on 25th October 1970, he hails from Lavun LGA in Niger State.

He started his educational career at the Zarumai Primary School in 1975. His secondary education was at the Federal Government College in Minna and completed same at the Kings College, Lagos in 1982.

He graduated from the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto in 1992. He was at the Nigerian Law School in 1993 and obtained a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Lagos 1997. He obtained his PhD in 2010 from the European American University.

He practiced between 1994 and 2003 with Chief Rotimi Williams’ Chamber. He was Head, Legal & Chartering, Oando Supply & Trading Limited between July 2004 and May 2007. He returned to law practice and worked at the firm of Fidelis Oditah & Co between May and December 2007.

Justice Idris was appointed a judge of the Federal High Court on 03rd January 2008.

He was in the court’s Lagos division where he was handling several high profiles cases, including the trials of Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo); Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta), former air chief Adesola Amosun, as well as the case filed by former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan seeking to unfreeze her account with $15million.

He sentenced Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to prison for allegedly embezzling funds belonging to Abia State whilst he was Governor, however this decision was upturned at the higher Courts.

He was elevated to the Court of Appeal on June 22, 2018.

He is ranked 54th in the Seniority list of the Appellate Court.

Ok. Wishing them all the best.

I wish them the very best

Good

I’ll be there

South East well represented. Congratulations to them 👏 all

Compensation list of loyalist

Criminals

Merited positions

payaseriy:
Compensation list of loyalist

move on already ... little wailer

Djele:
Criminals

den no ask u to describe your parents

Djele:
Criminals

You have no idea what it takes or cost to be a judge.


That comment of yours is described as a contempt of court, which tends to bring into disrespect, scorn or disrepute the authority and administration of the law. According to the section 133 of the criminal code, it could earn you three months behind bars. Free speech shouldn’t be lose.

Bravo

Why all of them dey obtain this and that from Lagos .....

Patriotic9ja:
South East well represented. Congratulations to them 👏 all

Yeah, I also noticed no wailing on the list. If it had been different, dem for don wail and cry tire by now. HYPOCRITES.

Hope they are not Agbadorians Judges? 😕🙁

Kudos to the Government.

May God help them all!
Remember there's no way you can treat a pig it must chop dirt!

Pig is haram!