NJC confirms Justice Tanko Muhammad as substantive CJN, 8 others as Heads of Court

The National Judicial Council (NJC), on Wednesday, recommended Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Rising from an emergency meeting Wednesday, the NJC also considered and approved the recommendation of its Interview Committee that screened the two candidates presented by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to it for appointment as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The Director, Information of the NJC, Soji Oye, said in a statement in Abuja that the emergency meeting which was initially presided over by Justice Umaru Abdullahi, was subsequently presided over by the Acting CJN.

The Council also recommended to the Governors of Sokoto, Lagos, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, and Jigawa States, eight successful candidates for appointment as Chief Judges and Grand Kadis for the states.

According to the statement Mr. Justice Muhammad S. Sifawa was recommended for appointment as Chief Judge of Sokoto state, Justice Kazeem O. Alogba as Lagos state Chief Judge, Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu for Anambra state, Justice Nwaigwe A. Anselm as Ebonyi State Chief Judge and Justice Aliyu M. Mayaki as Chief Judge of Niger State.

Others are Justice Filibus B. Andetur as Taraba State Chief Judge, Kadi Tijjani Yusuf Yakasai as the Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano State and Kadi Isa Jibrin Gantsa as Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal of Jigawa State.

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Oye said in the statement that the newly appointed Heads of Court will be sworn-in after the approval of the President and their respective state governors and confirmation by the Senate and State Houses of Assembly as the case may be.

He said the NJC, at the meeting, commended President Buhari for his unequivocal position on the financial autonomy for the States Judiciary and called on the various State Executives to, as a matter of urgency, commence its immediate implementation.

The NJC spokesman said the Council posited that “this is not only in line with the constitutional dictates but presently the Judicial position.

“Council also considered notification of retirements of Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judges of Gombe, Edo,Niger, Ebonyi, Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi States as well as those of nine other Judicial Officers from the Federal High Court, High Courts of Gombe, Delta, Edo, Imo, Benue and Katsina States.”