Alex Enumah in Abuja
Barring any last minute changes, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), will on Monday, February 26, administer the oath of office on 11 justices appointed to the Supreme Court bench.
Their inauguration on Monday will make history as the bench would for the first time attain its full compliment of 21 justices.
Recall that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had last December recommended 11 justices of the appellate court to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as Supreme Court justices, following their confirmation by the Senate.
Although, the Senate had confirmed their appointment on December 21, 2023, their inauguration is however taking place over 2 months the president approved their appointment.
Supreme Court Spokesman, Dr Festus Akande, in a short message to journalists hinted that, “the newly appointed 11 Justices of the Supreme Court will be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Monday at 10.00am at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court”.
Those to be sworn in on Monday include; Justice Haruna Tsammani, who presided over the five-member panel of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Court and Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, a member of the panel.
Others are; Justice Jummai Sankey, Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa, Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme, Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein, and Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya
Others include; Justice Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru, Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur, Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar and Justice Mohammed Baba Idris.
The last time the court got close to achieving its full compliment was in 2020, when eight justices were elevated from the Court of Appeal to join 12 other justices on the bench of the apex court to make it 20.
