PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of 28 judicial officers for the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Twelve were approved for the Court of Appeal, nine for the Federal High Court and seven for the High Court of the FCT.
Director, Information of the National Judicial Council (NJC) Soji Oye, who made this known in a statement yesterday, said Buhari’s approval was upon an earlier recommendation made to him by the NJC.
Those elevated to the Appeal Court include Justices Gabriel Kolawole, Bilikisu Aliyu and Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court and Abubakar Mahmud Talba of the High Court of the FCT (who was suspended for one year by the NJC over his decision in the John Yakubu Yusufu’s case in 2013).
Also elevated to the Appeal Court are Justices Folashade A. Ojo (of the High Court of the FCT); P. A. Mahmud; I. A. Andenyangsto; Ebiowei TobI; J. G. Abundaga; A. S. Umar; A. M. Bayero and A. M. Lamido.
Those, who made it to the Federal High Court bench are: Justice Peter O. Lifu (who is presently a judge of the National Industrial Court); Sunday Bassey Onu; Mrs. Adefunmilola Adekemi Demi-Ajayi; Obiora Atuegwu Egwuata; Sa’adatu Ibrahim Mark (Mrs.); Mobolaji Olubukola Olajuwon; Aminu Bappa Aliyu; Tijjani Garba Ringim and Nkeonye Evelyn Maha.
Those appointed for the High Court of the FCT are: Binta Mohammed; Modupe Osho-Adebiyi; Gaba Venchak Simon; Babangida Hassan; Akobi Iyabeni Anna; Samirah Umar Bature and Asmau Akanbi Yusuf.
Oye said those appointed for the Court of Appeal will be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of NJC, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Friday by 10.00 am.
He added that the swearing in of those appointed for the FCH will take place on June 25 at 2pm, while those for the High Court of the FCT will be sworn in on June 26 at 2pm.
Oye said the swearing in will take place at the Supreme Court.