FULL LIST: NJC receives 22 nominees for screening into supreme court bench

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has compiled a list of 22 justices of the court of appeal for elevation to the supreme court.

According to Channels TV, the list was forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC) on Thursday.

In the list, the north-central region has six nominees, while the south-west and south-south regions have two nominees each.

The south-east region also has six nominees, and the north-east has two nominees.

The NJC is expected to pick 11 deserving candidates from the list and forward same to President Bola Tinubu, who should appoint them to the apex court bench following confirmation by the senate.

Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), declared openings at the supreme court in June.

The court is currently left with 10 justices after the death of Centus Nweze, and the retirements of Amina Augie and Dattijo Muhammad.

Currently, only four of the six geo-political zones are represented on the supreme court bench. The south-west and north-east have three each, while the south-south and north-west have two each.

The constitution allows the supreme court to have a maximum of 21 justices.

FULL LIST

SOUTH-EAST

1. Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Abia State)-Priority

1A.Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Abia State) -Reserve

2. Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Ebonyi State)-Priority

2A. Hon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Imo State)- Reserve

3. Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu State)-Priority

3A. Hon Justice Chioma Nwosu-lheme (Imo State)-Reserve

SOUTH-SOUTH

1. Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Bayelsa State)-Priority

1A. Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Rivers State)-Reserve

SOUTH-WEST

1. Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Lagos State)-Priority

1A. Hon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Osun State)-Reserve

NORTH-CENTRAL

1. Hon Jummai Sankey (Plateau State)-Priority

1A. Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau)-Reserve

2. Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Kogi State)-Priority

2A. Hon Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Nassarawa State) -Reserve

3. Hon Justice Baba Idris (Niger State)-Priority

3A. Hon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Benue State)-Reserve

NORTH-EAST

1. Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi State)-Priority

1A. Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Adamawa State)

NORTH-WEST

1. Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa State)-Priority

1A. Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Zamfara State) -Reserve

2. Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi State)-Priority

2A. Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Kano State)-Reserve