Full List: NJC To Pick 12 As FJSC Releases 48 Names For Appeal Court

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has released the names of 48 judges nominated for possible appointment to the Court of Appeal bench, with only 12 to be eventually selected at the end of the ongoing process.

The list was published in a public notice titled “Appointment of 12 Justices to the Court of Appeal Bench: Call for Comments” in the Saturday edition of ThisDay newspaper.

The notice, signed by the Secretary of the FJSC, invited members of the public to submit comments on the nominees in a move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.

According to the commission, the list of 48 nominees was forwarded to it by the Court of Appeal, which initiated the appointment process.

At the conclusion of its assessment, the FJSC is expected to recommend 24 candidates to the National Judicial Council.

The NJC will then conduct its own screening process, including interviews, before selecting the final 12 candidates to be recommended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment.

The successful nominees will fill vacant slots for 12 states on the Court of Appeal bench.

The states with vacancies include Benue, Plateau, Gombe, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ekiti, Ogun and Ondo.

Each state has four nominees on the initial long list, drawn from judges currently serving in State High Courts, the Federal High Court, Customary Courts of Appeal and the National Industrial Court.

Among the nominees is Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who in November last year sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.

Also listed is Justice Emeka Nwite, another Federal High Court judge in Abuja, who currently handles several high-profile cases, including the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on money laundering charges.

If appointed to the Court of Appeal, any cases Justice Nwite is unable to conclude at the Federal High Court would have to start afresh.

Another notable nominee is Justice Safiya Badamasi Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria currently serving as a judge of the Katsina State High Court. SANs rarely apply for judicial appointments.

Public invited to submit complaints

The FJSC said the purpose of publishing the names was to solicit comments from the public on the integrity, reputation and suitability of the nominees for judicial appointment.

Members of the public were urged to submit written comments strictly on issues relating to integrity, reputation and suitability.

“All complaints or comments must be submitted in writing to the office of the Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission within fourteen days from the date of publication,” the notice stated.

Submissions can be delivered to the FJSC Secretariat at the Supreme Court Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, or sent via email to [email protected].

The commission said all submissions must be accompanied by a sworn affidavit deposed to before a superior court of record in Nigeria or a Notary Public.

It warned against false or unsubstantiated allegations, noting that such submissions could attract consequences, and stressed that complaints must be specific and supported with sufficient details.

The publication of nominees’ names for public scrutiny was introduced by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who chairs both the FJSC and the NJC.

The initiative was announced at the NJC’s 108th meeting held in April 2025, as part of efforts to strengthen transparency in judicial appointments.

Full list of nominees:

Benue State: Ibrahim Mohammed, Augustine Ityonyiman, Jennifer Ijohor and Dennis Igyuse.

Plateau State: Jacob Azi Atsen, Veronica Dadom, Stephen Dalyop Pam, and Nankwat Dawat Shaseet.

Gombe State: Abdulhameed Mohammed Yakubu, Suleiman Yahaya Abubakar, Mohammed Auwal Haruna, and Daurabo Suleiman Sikkam .

Taraba State: Nuhu Adi, Rosemary Kanyip, Danladi Yakubu, and Dauda Njane Buba.

Katsina State: Sanusi Kado, Safiya Badamasi Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria; Adam Salihu Yarima, and Ibrahim Abubakar Maude.

Kebbi State: Sabiu Bala Shuaibu, Maryam Aliyu Hassan, Abubakar Saddiq Bello, and Shamsudeen Ja’afar.

Ebonyi State: Vincent Nwanchor, Thelma Adanna Achom, Esther Awo Ota, and Emeka Nwite.

Bayelsa State: Raphael Ajuwa, Ebiyerin Goodness Omukoro, Simon Warikiyel Amaduobogha, and Patience Zoufa

Cross River State: Abua Elias Ojie, Emmanuel Ubua, Ukpai Abba, and Obo Awusa Oto.

Ekiti State: Monisola Oluwatoyin Abodunde, Jubril Aladejana, Lucas Ogundana and Olusegun Ogunyemi

Ogun State: James Kolawole Omotosho, Olugboyega Ogunfowora, Yetunde Pinheiro, and Olufunke Sule-Amzat.

Ondo State: Oluyemi Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, Orimisan Okorisa, Akinfemi Owoyemi, and Ademola Enikuomehin.