BREAKING: Senate Approves 11 New Judges For Supreme Court Job
The Senate has officially affirmed the appointment of 11 Supreme Court justices nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the existing vacancies on the apex court bench.
This confirmation transpired after a comprehensive assessment and endorsement of a report put forth by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters during Thursday’s plenary session.
President Tinubu sought Senate confirmation for the nominees, individuals recommended by the National Judicial Council to fill the voids created by the demise and resignation of certain justices. The confirmed nominees include Justice Haruna Tsammani (North East), former chair of the Presidential Election Petition Court, Justice Moore Adumein (South South), Justice Jummai Sankey (North Central), Justice Chidiebere Uwa (South East), and Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South East).
Other confirmed justices are Justice Obande Ogbuinya (South-East), Justice Stephen Adah (North Central), Justice Habeeb Abiru (South West), Justice Jamilu Tukur (North West), Justice Abubakar Umar (North West), and Justice Mohammed Idris (North Central).
Senator Tahir Monguno, the committee’s chairman, while presenting the report, affirmed that the nominees possessed the requisite qualifications and experience for the position, with no petitions lodged against them. He recommended their confirmation, marking the fulfillment of the Supreme Court’s statutory requirement of 21 justices on its bench.
Senators, addressing concerns before the confirmation, highlighted the prolonged delay in appointing justices to the Supreme Court bench. Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa) emphasized the need for immediate replacements in the event of future vacancies, cautioning against delays to avoid becoming a subject of ridicule.
Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti) stressed the importance of promptly screening and appointing individuals next in line to fill vacancies as they occur.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia) urged a review of the judiciary’s budget allocation for 2024, emphasizing the need for enhanced resources to ensure effective functioning, including addressing challenges faced by state courts.
