NBA shortlists nine lawyers for appointment as S/Court Justices

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has forwarded the names of nine eligible applicants to the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), Walter Samuel Onnoghen, for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

This followed a rigorous process of shortlisting done by a select committee chaired by the NBA President, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN) with eight other eminent lawyers as members.

Applicants shortlisted by the umbrella body of legal practitioners in Nigeria for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court are, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), from Anambra state, who was called to the Bar in 1978, Anthony Ikemefuna Idigbe, also an SAN from Delta state and called to Bar in 1983 and Yunus Ustas Usman (SAN) from Kogi state and called to Bar in 1983.

A statement from the office of the NBA President also named Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN) from Ondo and called to Bar in 1988, Miannayaaja Essien (SAN), year of call is1985 from Rivers state, Awa Uma Kalu (SAN), from Abia and called to Bar in 1978, Professor Awalu Hamish Yadudu, Kano state and was called to Bar in 1979 and Tajudeen Oladoja, year of call, 1985 from Kwara state, Ayuba Giwa, Edo and was called to Bar in 1983.

The applicants were shortlisted from a total of 89 senior lawyers that expressed interest for the job and meticulously scrutinised by the Committee.

It would also be recalled that the Acting CJN, Walter Onnoghen had earlier forwarded a request to the President of the NBA, “to nominate suitable candidate for consideration as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”