Wife of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Suzette Eberechi Wike, and 21 other successful candidates have been recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal (JCAs).
Also, the NJC also recommended for appointment as Judges, Victoria Oluwakemi Ariwoola, daughter-in-law of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike, an in-law of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Besides Wike’s wife, others in the 22-man NJC list for elevation to the Appeal Court include Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, Justice Donatus Okorowo, both of the Federal High Court and Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court.
This was disclosed in a statement from the NJC signed by its Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye.
“Council at the Meeting also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend the under-listed 86 Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the statement noted that the NJC at the meeting considered two reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees.
However, the statement added that the NJC issued warning letters to three judges and barred two of them from elevation to higher bench for a period.
“The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its plenary of 105th Meeting held on May 15&16, 2024, resolved to issue warning letters to Justice Inyang E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court,” it stated.
According to the statement, Justice Ekwo was warned for abuse of discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors.
“The Hon Judge is also barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for a period of two years.
“Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgement within stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, Suit No A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for a period of three years.Council cautioned Hon.
“Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in Suit No YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgement of any Court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ,” the statement added.
While 12 persons were recommended as judges of the FCT High Court, seven were appointed for Imo; six for Bauchi State, three for Taraba State and 13 for Lagos States’ High Courts.
Similarly, Kogi State7 had four, while Jigawa Stae has two persons appointed as High Court judges.
