NJC Recommends Justice Oyewole For S’Court, 35 Others For Judicial Appointments

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has recommended Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, a serving Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, for appointment to the Supreme Court as a Justice of the court.

The Council, at its 110th meeting held between January 13 and 14, 2026, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, made the decision.

Also, the Council approved 36 candidates for various judicial offices across the federation, following what it described as a rigorous screening process.

The Man, Justice Oyewole:

Justice Oyewole is considered one of the most outstanding jurists on the Bench; he played an extensive role in the reform of the Administration of Criminal Justice law in Nigeria.

Justice Oyewole upheld the sacking of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi as the senator-elect for Delta North Senatorial District.

He described Nwaoboshi’s appeal as lacking in merit.

Also, Chief Bode George was sentenced to prison by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos State High Court in 2009 for corruption charges related to his time at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), though his conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court in 2013, led by Justice John Afolabi Fabiyi, who found the charges of “contract splitting” legally insufficient.

Justice Oyewole,  known for his landmark judgements as a judge in the Lagos High Court which earned him elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2014, was born on May 13, 1965.

Some other notable cases he handled were:

FRN V Chukwuemeka Ezeuko (Alias Dr. Rev King), FRN V Chief Emmanuel Nwude & ORS, FRN V Ishaya Bamaiyi

He hails from Ila Oragun in Osun state and had his education in Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Lagos States.

Oyewole was appointed a judge of the Lagos State High Court on May 24, 2001, serving there before being elevated to the Court of Appeal, where he currently sits in the Enugu Division, though he’s a known figure who often interacts with the Lagos legal community.

He is a respected jurist known for wisdom and inspiring young lawyers, often sharing insights from his extensive career.

Oyewole is a respected figure in the judiciary, known for mentoring and delivering inspiring speeches to legal interns.

The Council also approved 27 candidates for appointment as Judges of State High Courts across seven states, including Borno, Niger, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Delta and Ekiti.

In addition, the NJC okayed the appointment of six Kadis to Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba and Katsina states, as well as two Judges to the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.

According to the Council, the appointments followed interviews and the consideration of public complaints, in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.

The breakdown of the appointment is as follows:

Six high court judges were appointed for Borno state, they are Mustapha, Mallam Babagana, Mustapha, Hadiza Grema, James, Peter Bwala, Zannah, Tijjani Babakura, Alkali, Alhaji Umar and Dunoma, Yahaya Alhaji.

Also six high court judges were appointed for Plateau state, they are Maikai, Andrawus, Kparbong, Tongret Nanman, Nkwap, Diane Ngummai, Mantu, John Ishaku, Bature, Gavou Musa and Mallan, Kingsley Mangai.

Five high court judges were appointed for Ekiti state, they are, Adegoke, Olanike Caroline, Bamise, Julius Sunday Bamidele, Ajibare, Julius, Akinyede, Stephen Rotimi and Anoma, Adefunke Helen

In the appointment, Niger state got for judges appointed, they are, Abubakar, Adamu Ahmed, Bala Ndajiwo, Gambo, Sa’adatu Abubakar and Wushishi, Sulaiman Buhari

Four were appointed for Delta and the are, Otite, Jonah Akporuaro, Sam-Oligida, Jereoma, Ukuli, Boeye Irene and Adamidenyo, Otome Benjamin.

Babagari Mansura Mohammed is the sole appointee from Taraba state.