NJC Denies Discussing List of Nominees for Appointment of S’Court Justices

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The National Judicial Council (NJC), has refuted reports in the media that it was not aware or did not receive from the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), a list of 22 justices nominated for appointment into the bench of the Supreme Court.

The NJC, yesterday, through its spokesperson, Mr Soji Oye, maintained that it had no time had discussion with anybody regarding receiving or not receiving the list of justices said to have been nominated by the FJSC.

While stating that the media reports were “deliberate handiwork of mischief-makers, the NJC Director of Information, maintained that reports on such matters were usually by official press statement from the Council through his office.

He, however, cautioned against unverified reports circulating in the media regarding the processes involved in filling vacancies on the bench of the Supreme Court.

Report of a list of 22 justices nominated for elevation into the bench of the apex court by the FJSC had dominated media space since Thursday evening.

The nomination, it was believed, was aimed at achieving the apex court’s full compliment of 21 justices. As at today, there are only 10 justices on the Supreme Court’s bench due to retirements and deaths in the last three years.

The last time that the apex court was close to achieving its full compliment was in 2020, when it had 20 justices.

The depletion over the last few years has increased the heavy workload of the justices of the apex court, thereby leading to clamour for the appointment of more justices.