President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of 25 new
judges for the Court of Appeal.
A statement by the Acting Director of Information in the National
Judicial Council, Mr. Soji Oye, said the development followed the
recommendation of the Council, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mariam
Mukhtar.
The appointments, which increased the number of justices of the
appellate court to 90, were in line with the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Act.
The NJC recommended the appointments in order to fill vacancies
occasioned by the death of some justices, as well as retirement and the
elevation of a number of appeal court justices to the Supreme Court.
The statement explained that the CJN would inaugurate the justices on
Monday, March 24, in the main auditorium of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The newly appointed judges are Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Gombe State;
Joseph Jude Jella, Taraba; Bitrus G. Sanga, Bauchi; Muhammed Mustapha, Borno;
Yargata Nimpar, Gombe; Sa’idu Tanko Hussein, Kogi; Mudashiru N. Oniyangi,
Kwara; and Amina Audi Wambai, Niger.
Others include justices Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, from
(Nasarawa State); Tani Y. Hassan, Kano; Muhammed Lawal Shuaibu, Jigawa; Kadi
Musa Hassan Alkali, Kaduna; Jamilu Y. Tukur, Katsina; Paul Obi Elechi, Ebonyi;
Ugochukwu A. Ogakwu, Enugu; Nonyerem Okoronkwo, Imo; Joseph E. Ekanem, Akwa
Ibom; F.E. Oho, Delta; and Abimbola O. O. Adejumo, Edo.
The rest are justices Bolokuromo M. Ugo; Bayelsa State; Biobele A.
Georgewill, Rivers; Oludotun A. Adefope-Okojie, Ogun; Misitura O.
Bolaji-Yusuf, Oyo; J.O.K. Oyewole, Osun; and O.E. Williams-Dawudu, Lagos.