The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, has recommended Justice Eberechi Wike, wife of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and 21 other judges for elevation to the Court of Appeal.
According to a memorandum signed on April 2, the CJN forwarded 92 names to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), which approved 22 nominees for onward transmission to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further consideration and appointment as justices of the Court of Appeal, News About Nigeria reports.
Justice Eberechi Wike, who made the priority list, is joined by other nominees from various regions, including Polycarp Tema Kwahar (Benue), Ruqayat Ayoola (Kogi), Eneche Eleojo (Kogi), Asmara Akanbi Yusuf (Kwara), Abdullahi Muhammad Liman (Nasarawa), and Abdu Dogo (FCT) from the north-central region.
From the northeast, Justice Fadahu Umaru (Borno) is the sole nominee, while the northwest region has Ishaq Mohammed Sani (Kaduna), Zainab Bage Abubakar (Kebbi), and Abdulaziz M. Ankara (Zamfara) on the list.
The south-east region is represented by Nnamdi Okwy Dimga Victoria (Abia), Toochukwu Nwoye (Anambra), Henry Aja-Onu Njoku (Ebonyi), Donatus Uwaezuoke Okorowo (Enugu), and Ngozika N Okaisabor (Imo), while the south-south region has Ntong Festus Ntong (Akwa-Ibom), Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi (Edo), and Eberechi Suzette Wike (Rivers) on the list.
The south-west region is represented by Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo (Lagos), Abiodun Azeem Akinyemi (Ogun), Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola (Oyo), and Bayo Ademola Taiwo (Oyo).
The FJSC also placed some judges on a reserve list for possible elevation, including Dorcas Venenge Agishi (Benue), Folajobi Ajayi (Kogi), and Adamu Yahaya (Kogi) from the north-central region, among others.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had, in a similar move, recommended 11 justices for elevation in December 2023.
This recommendation came after the apex court was left with only 10 justices following the death of Centus Nweze and the retirements of Amina Augie and Dattijo Muhammad.
The Supreme Court, which has a constitutional maximum capacity of 21 justices, had been operating with a reduced bench before the development.
