The National Judicial Council (NJC), on Monday, released the names of judicial officers recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors for appointment into various offices in the federal and states judiciary.
Those shortlisted include Justice Henry Olusiyi as Chief Judge of Kogi State; Justice Aisha Bwari as Chief Judge of Niger State, and Kadi Shu’aibu Achida as the Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Sokoto.
“The NJC, at its 93rd meeting of December 16, 2020, which was virtually held, considered the list of candidates interviewed and presented by its Interview Committee. At the end of the deliberation, the council recommended the under-listed 69 names of successful candidates to the president (in the case of Kadis of the FCT Sharia Court of Appeal) and the various state governors (in the case of other state judicial officers and heads of court) for appointment,” a statement from NJC’s Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, said.
Those recommended for appointment as Presidents of Customary Court of Appeal are Justices John Olowosegun, Wasiu Akanbi, Patrick Dapit, and S.M.C. Ururuka-Onyensoh for Kogi, Osun, Plataeu, and Abia States respectively.
In the states’ high court category, they are Saadu Sambowal, Farouk Sarki M, Mohammed Abubakar, Bauchi State; while Bamidele Aina and Aisha Mohammed were recommended for Kogi State.
Meanwhile five persons have been recommended for appointment as Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They are Bashiru Maisule, Salisu Garba, Mohammed Abubakar, Lawal Abdullahi and Abdullahi Al-ilory.
According to the statement, all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after approval of the NJC recommendations by the president, the respective state governors and the respective state Houses of Assembly, as the case may be.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, confirmed the appointment of Justice Henry Adebola Olusiyi as the substantive Chief Judge of Kogi State.
The Assembly also confirmed Hon. Justice John Bayo Olowosegun, as President of Kogi State Customary Court of Appeal.
In a letter addressed to the Assembly by the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Speaker of the House, Prince Mathew Kolawole said Justice Olusiyi was recommended by the National Judicial Council, (NJC) for the appointment.
He said Olusiyi name was nominated for screening and confirmation in line with section 271 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The Speaker, who announced the confirmation, directed the clerk to inform the governor of the confirmation.
Hon Justice Henry Adebola Olusiyi hails from Igbaruku-Okeri in Yagba West Local Government Area Kogi State.
