…Recommends appointment of Six Heads of Court and Nine Judicial Officers
The National Judicial Council (NJC) at its 97th Meeting held on 15 and 16 March 2022 resolved to issue warning letters to two Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Court.
The NJC under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Tanko Muhammad issued warning letter to Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and also placed him on Council’s “Watch List” for a period of one year.
Justice Idris was accused of signing the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgement in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd.
The Suit was for recovery of demised property.
Accordingly, the NJC agreed with the findings of the Committee that investigated the Justice Idris that his action was in contravention of Proviso to Order 27 Rule (16) (b) High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Procedure Rules 2018 and Order 4 (1) and (2) of the Judgement Enforcement Rules 2004.
The NJC also resolved to issue a warning letter to Justice M. M. Ladan of the High Court of Kaduna State having found merit in the petition written against him in Suit No. KDH/KAD/1321/2018 between VTLS Inc. Vs Ahmadu Bello University.
Justice Ladan signed the Writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending.
The NJC at the meeting equally considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and at the end of deliberation, it recommended the under-listed names of 15 successful candidates as Heads of Courts and other Judicial Officers in Nigeria.
They are as follows: Chief Judge of Plateau State, Hon. Justice David Gwong Mann, Chief Judge of Gombe State, Hon. Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kaduna State, Kadi Abdurrahman Umar Abubakar, Grand Kadi of Sharia Court of Appeal, Taraba State, Kadi Shuaibu Dahiru Ahmad and the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Rivers State Justice Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor.
Others include; President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Cross River State, Justice Sampson Mbeh Anjor, six Judges of the Federal High Court namely; Justices Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman, Emmanuel Gakko, Aminu Garba, Musa Sulaiman Liman, Ahmad Gama Mahmud and Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye.
The NJC also approved one Judge for the High Court of the FCT in the person of Justice Joseph Adebayo Aina.
Similarly, one Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Taraba State, Sallau Ismaila Madugu was appointed by the NJC which equally approved the appointment of Justice Bulus Samuelson Nyiputen for the Customary Court of Appeal, Taraba State.
A statement by Mr. Soji Oye, Director of Information for the NJC stated that all the recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after approval by President Muhammadu Buhari and their respective State Governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective State House of Assemblies as the case may be.
The statement further said that the NJC also considered the reports of various Committees and noted the notification of retirements of 23 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State Courts and notification of death of one State High Court Judge.
