NJC advocates appointment of Justice Muhammad as substantive CJN

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has endorsed the appointment of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to President Muhammadu Buhari.

It reached the decision at its emergency meeting initially presided over by Justice Umaru Abdullahi.

The meeting considered and approved the recommendation of its Interview Committee, which screened the two candidates presented by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to it for appointment as CJN.

Also, the meeting presided over by Acting CJN recommended the appointment of eight successful candidates as Chief Judges (CJs) and Grand Kadis to the governors of Sokoto, Lagos, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger, Taraba, Kano and Jigawa states.

They are, Justice Muhammad S. Sifawa (Sokoto State High Court of Justice); Justice Kazeem O. Alogba (Lagos State High Court of Justice); Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu (Anambra State High Court of Justice) and Justice Nwaigwe A. Anselm (Ebonyi State High Court of Justice).

Others are, Justice Aliyu M. Mayaki  (Niger State High Court of Justice); Justice Filibus B. Andetur (Taraba State High Court of Justice); Kadi Tijjani Yusuf Yakasai, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano and Kadi Isa Jibrin Gantsa Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa State.

The newly appointed heads of courts are to be sworn in upon approval of President Buhari and their respective state governors, as well as their confirmation by the Senate and state Houses of Assembly.

Council, however, commended the President for his position on financial autonomy for states’ judiciary and enjoined the various state executives to immediately begin its implementation.

A statement issued by Director of Information at NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, added that the implementation was not only in line with constitutional dictates, but also judicial position.

It also considered notification of retirements of Chief Judges of the Federal High Court, Gombe, Edo, Niger and Ebonyi states, Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi State as well as nine other judicial officers from the Federal High Court and high courts of Gombe, Delta, Edo, Imo, Benue and Katsina states.