The Senate has confirmed the appointment of 11 Supreme Court Justices nominated by President Bola Tinubu to fill the vacancies on the apex court bench.
This followed the adoption of the report of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and legal Matters at the Committee of the Whole on Thursday, December 21, 2023. Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Senator Mohammed Monguno, said the request for confirmation of the nominees was in pursuant to section 231(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Monguno said the committee at the screening received their curriculum vitae and other documents on their suitability for appointment as Supreme Court Justices. “The nominees individually demonstrated knowledge and grasp on questions asked by members of the committee,” he said.
Monguno said there was no criminal record or petition against the nominees, saying that they all possed the requisite experience and competency to function as Supreme Court Justices. Also speaking, Senator Binos Yaroe (PDP-Adamawa), who seconded the motion for adoption of the report, said the nominees were all eminently qualified for appointment as Supreme Court Justices.
He said all the nominees emanated from the Appeal Courts, urging that efforts should be made in the near future to nominate law scholars who were suitable from the academia. Former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu, commended President Tinubu for the nomination.
They called for improved funding of the judiciary saying that improved funding would ensure speedy dispensation of justice. “Let us give them more resources,” Lawan said.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the allocation of more resources for the judiciary would improve modern ways of justice dispensation, while also commending Tinubu for accommodating all zones in the nomination. He congratulated the Justices and prayed that God grant them wisdom and strength of character to carry out justice in Nigeria.
The new Supreme Court Justices are Jummai Sankey, Stephen Adah, Mohammed Idris, Haruna Tsammani, Jamilu Tukur, Abubakar Umar, Chidiebere Uwa, Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, Obande Ogbuinya, Moore Adumein, and Habeeb Abiru.
