National Judicial Council Submits 14 Nominees for Federal High Court Bench
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has formally recommended fourteen candidates to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria. This significant development follows the council's 110th meeting, which took place on January 13 and 14, 2026.
According to an official statement released by Kemi Ogedengbe, the Deputy Director of Information at the NJC, the nominees underwent comprehensive security vetting. The screening process concluded that there were no adverse comments or reports against any of the proposed candidates, clearing the path for their recommendation to the presidency.
List of Recommended Judicial Candidates
The fourteen individuals put forward by the NJC for elevation to the Federal High Court bench are:
- Amida Hassan Suleiman
- Barau Saidu Muhammad
- Chinelo Conchita Igboko
- Chioma Angela Onuegbu
- Edingah Galumje
- Vera Eneabo Ibrahim
- Musa Usman Abubakar
- Aisha Yunusa Salihu
- Joy Bassey Ikpeme
- Umaru Adamu Shehu
- Ibrahim Buba Mohammed
- Nendelmum Judith Eigege-Binjin
- Kuyik Uduak Usoro
- Osinachi Donatus Nwoye
The council has forwarded these recommendations to President Tinubu for his final consideration and the subsequent appointment process.
Broader Judicial Appointments and Approvals
In addition to the Federal High Court nominations, the NJC meeting yielded several other critical decisions aimed at strengthening the nation's judiciary. The council approved the recommendation of Justice Joseph Oyewole, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, for appointment to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Furthermore, the NJC sanctioned the appointment of twenty-seven candidates as judges for state high courts across seven states: Borno, Niger, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Delta, and Ekiti.
The council also gave its approval for the appointment of six kadis to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba, and Katsina states. Additionally, two judges were approved for the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.
These collective appointments form part of the NJC's ongoing strategic efforts to bolster judicial capacity, fill vacancies, and enhance the overall efficiency and delivery of justice throughout Nigeria's legal system.
Context and Recent Judicial Developments
The recommendations come amidst other notable actions by the National Judicial Council. In a related development, the NJC recently mandated the compulsory retirement of ten judges from the Imo State judiciary. Reports indicate that nine of these retirements were due to allegations of age falsification, while one judge was retired for allowing himself to be sworn in as chief judge without proper authorisation.
The 110th meeting of the NJC was presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The council's decisions underscore its pivotal role in overseeing judicial appointments and maintaining standards within the Nigerian judiciary, a key institution for governance and the rule of law.
