Senate Confirms 11 Justices to Fill Vacancies in Supreme Court
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of 11 justices to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council. The confirmation came after the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters considered and adopted a report during Thursday’s plenary session.
The nominees confirmed include Justice Haruna Tsammani (North East), who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Court, Justice Moore Adumein (South South), Justice Jummai Sankey (North Central), Justice Chidiebere Uwa (South East), and Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South East). Others are Justice Obande Ogbuinya (South-East), Justice Stephen Adah (North Central), Justice Habeeb Abiru (South West), Justice Jamilu Tukur (North West), Justice Abubakar Umar (North West), and Justice Mohammed Idris (North Central).
Senator Tahir Monguno, the chairman of the committee, presented the panel’s report, stating that the nominees possess the necessary qualifications and experience for the positions, with no petitions filed against them. He recommended their confirmation, which was subsequently approved.
With the confirmation of these 11 justices, the Supreme Court now meets the statutory requirement of 21 justices on its bench.
During the session, several senators expressed concern over the delays in appointing justices to the Supreme Court bench. Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa) urged that provisions for immediate replacement should be made in the event of subsequent vacancies, emphasizing the need to avoid delays.
Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti) emphasized the importance of promptly screening and appointing replacements for vacancies in the apex court. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia) highlighted the need to review the budget allocated to the judiciary in the 2024 budget to enhance its effectiveness, expressing concern about the current state of the state courts.
Source: Daily Trust
