Law/Judiciary
Senate Confirms Eight New Supreme Court Justices
The Senate yesterday confirmed the appointments of eight new Supreme Court Justices
President Muhammadu Buhari, had through a letter read by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, penultimate week, asked the Senate to approve the appointment of the eight Justices.
Buhari had said the appointments were based on the recommendations of the National Judicial Council.
Buhari had also said his action was, “in pursuant to Section 231 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and upon the advice of the National Judicial Council according to their ranking and seniority in the Court of Appeal.”
Those confirmed are Lawal Garba, (North West), Helen Ogunwumiju (South West), Abdu Aboki (North West), and M M Saulawa (North West).
Others include Adamu Jauro (North East), Samuel Oseji (South South), Tijani Abubakar (North East), and Emmanuel Agim (South South).
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, presented the report of his panel’s screening exercise for Senators’ consideration yesterday.
He said his committee found out that all the Justices were eminently qualified for the exalted positions and that there was no petition against any of them.
Bamidele said their appointment satisfied the requirements of Sections 230(2) and 232(1) and (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
He said: “Upon confirmation of the appointment of the nominees by the Senate, all geo-political zones will be represented by three or four Justices, as the case may be, except the North-Central zone, which will maintain its current two Justices on the Bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”