By Kayode Adeoti
The National Judicial Council has denied media reports that it recommended former Kwara State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice’s wife, F. Ojo, Justice Mahmud Abdul Gafar and twelve others for approval as justices of the Court of Appeal, without including a single judge from the South-East.
The chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, through a spokesperson, also reacted to the report.
In a statement on Monday night by the NJC’s Director of information, Soji Oye, the council distanced itself from the said list, describing the report as ‘fake news’. It, however, confirmed an ongoing process for the appointment of new judges for the Appeal Court.
Meanwhile, Sahara Reporters had on Monday published a list of 14 new justices of the Appeal Court who, according to the medium, were recommended for appointment by the NJC, without any inclusion of judges from the South-east.
The medium further said the list of judges, which was split into two categories; namely the priority and reserved list, had the wife of the NBA President, Mahmoud Mohammed, and that of a former President of the Bar, Bayo Ojo, in the priority list. It added that other judges on the priority list include I. G. Abundaga from Nasarawa State, M. B. Idris from Niger State and A. M. Talba from Adamawa State.
“Others are Justices Kadi M. M. Alkali from Adamawa State, A. I. Adenyangtso from Taraba, A. S. Umar and O. Z. Senchi, both from Kebbi, A. M. Lamido from Sokoto, B. B. Aliyu from Zamfara, Ebowei Tobi, son of the late Justice Niki E. Tobi from Delta State and G.O. Kolawole from Osun State.
“Names on the reserved list include Justices O. Itodo (Benue), D. D. Adeck (Nasarawa) D. G. Mann (Plateau) D. G. Goji (Adamawa) and Kadi U. B. Umar (Adamawa). Others are Justices Y. A. Bashir (Taraba), Z. B. Abubakar (Kebbi), I. M. Sani (Kaduna), F. L. Adamu (Kano), I. B. Ahmed (Katsina), M Y Uftsha’u (Zamfara), P. O. Affen (Bayelsa) and O. A. Ipaye (Osun),” the medium reported.
But reacting to the publication, Oye urged Nigerians to discountenance the report.
“The attention of the National Judicial Council has been drawn to a purported list of Judges newly appointed to the Court of Appeal being circulated in public space and tragically reported as news item by credible news outlets.
