This week, the National Judicial Council (NJC) will convene on Wednesday and Thursday to approve the nominations of eleven justices to the Supreme Court and judges to the federation’s states.
The NJC will deliver the names of the 22 nominees for Supreme Court vacancies to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu upon completion of his review of them. Tinubu will then forward the names to the Senate for further review and confirmation.
On Wednesday, the NJC will start the appointment process, which included interviews and a review of the panel’s report that evaluated the candidates. On Thursday, the NJC will select 11 names.
Supreme Court Bench: NJC Commences Screening Of 22 Justices
Speaking with Daily Sun, a source said, “The council members will exhaustively consider each candidate for appointment and study petitions against them, if any, by their merit. Where allegations are proven, those involved will be rejected. In the end, the 11 candidates found to be credible and capable will be ratified.”
The source claims that the NJC will conduct a meticulous selection procedure and that any applicant from the “reserve” who is deemed to be more qualified than a “priority” will be selected.
According to the source, NJC will also take into account and suggest judges for nomination to state and federal high courts, the National Industrial Court, and heads of courts.
State governors will also get the names of the new judges for the customary courts of appeal, Sharia courts, and state high courts for approval.
NJC Denies Receiving Supreme Court Justice Nomination List
Paragraph 20 of Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, states that the NJC is composed of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the President of the Court of Appeal, the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court (as the deputy chairman), five retired justices chosen by the CJN from the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, and five chief judges of states, who will be ap
According to reports, the second-ranking justice on the Supreme Court is Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, who just retired from the bench after criticising Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
He presided over the NJC finance, appointment, and constitution revision committees.
Ariwoola was appointed to the Supreme Court before Justice Muhammad, despite the latter’s superior status at the Court of Appeal.
NJC Reveals They Are Not Aware Of Shortlist Of 22 Justices For Supreme Court’
Information surfaced that after Justice Tanko Muhammad retired as CJN, some advocated for Justice Dattijo Muhammad to take over as CJN, breaking the convention. However, former President Muhammadu Buhari adhered to seniority protocol and named Ariwoola, who was the next in rank at the highest court.
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