The National Judicial Council, NJC, has extended the appointment of Imo State Acting Chief Judge, Hon Justice I. O. Agugua.
The NJC in a release endorsed by the Deputy Director information, Kemi Babalola Ogedengbe, after its 110th meeting held on Tuesday and presided over by Justice Kudirat Motonmori. Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, declined to entertain a fresh petition against the Imo Acting Chief Judge, having previously considered and disposed of the same issues more than once.
The NJC further announced that a Committee has been constituted to consider the request for review submitted by the nine (9) dismissed Judges of Imo State Judiciary.
The Council also recommended Hon. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole, JCA,Hon. Justice Oyewole who is currently the presiding Justice of the Court of
Appeal, Enugu Division as a Supreme Court Justice and 35 others for various Judicial appointments.
It also recommended 27 candidates for State High Courts across
seven States and okayed six Kadis and two Customary Court of Appeal Judges.
The Council approved 27 candidates for appointments as Judges as follows: Borno (6), Niger (4), Benue (1), Taraba (1), Plateau (6), Delta (4), and Ekiti (5) States.
Six (6) Kadis for appointment to the Sharia Courts of Appeal are Niger (3), Taraba (2), and Katsina (1) States.
The Council also approved Two (2) Judges for appointment to the Customary Court of Appeal, Delta State.
The NJC further cleared the Osun State Chief Judge, Hon Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, of alleged misconduct as well as dismissed the petition against a Delta State High Court Judge, Hon Justice Gentu E. Timi over chieftaincy dispute.
The Council also made public the reversal of the one year suspension without pay of a Court of Appeal Justice, Hon Justice Jane E. Inyang and the dismissal of 26 petitions against judicial officers while ordering further investigation of seven others.
It approved the voluntary retirement of Two Senior Judicial Officers namely: Umar Ibrahim Abdullahi, Acting Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Plateau State and Hon. Justice Obientobara Owupele Daniel-Kalio, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Asaba Division.
The Council, however, advised Heads of Court to be circumspect in assigning complex matters to newly appointed Judges.
