Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria explained

The Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria are members of the Supreme Court of Nigeria composed of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other justices not more than 21 including the chief justice, appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, (NJC) and subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. Justices of the Supreme Court must be qualified to practice law in Nigeria, and must have been so qualified for a period not less than fifteen years. Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria have a mandatory retirement age of 70 years.[1] [2]

Recent history

In June 2019, when the court had 16 justices, the president wrote the CJN, asking him as the chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to “initiate in earnest the process of appointing additional five Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to make the full complement of Justices of the Supreme Court” as contained in the Nigerian Constitution. After the quarter of 2020, a number of justices retired, making the number of justices to 13 justices and increasing the workload on the bench. The recommendation from the National Judicial Council for the appointment of 8 new judges in 2020 after the confirmation by the Nigerian Senate increased the number to 21 Justices.[3] After the death of Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, the retirement of Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, the death of Justice Samuel Oseji, the retirement of Justice Mary Odili, the retirement of Justice Ejembi Eko, the retirement of Justice Abdu Aboki and the resignation of Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, it became a total number of 13 Justices in the Supreme Court of Nigeria including the Chief Justice of Nigeria. The death of Justice Chima Nweze in July 2023 and the retirement of Justice Amina Augie and Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad in September and October 2023 respectively, further reduced the number of Justices to 10.

On 21 December 2023, the Nigerian Senate confirmed the appointment of 11 more Supreme Court justices, bringing the number of justices in the Supreme Court to the maximum constitutional requirement of 21 for the first time since 2020.[4] [5] The 11 justices were sworn in on 26 February 2024.[6]

Current Justices of the Supreme Court

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OfficeNameTerm
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Olukayode Ariwoola 2011–present
Associate JusticeKudirat Kekere-Ekun2013–present
Associate JusticeJohn Inyang Okoro2013–present
Associate justiceUwani Musa Abba Aji2018–present
Associate JusticeM. Lawal Garba2020–present
Associate JusticeHelen M. Ogunwumiju2020–present
Associate JusticeI. N. M. Saulawa2020–present
Associate JusticeAdamu Jauro2020–present
Associate JusticeTijjani Abubakar2020–present
Associate JusticeEmmanuel A. Agim2020–present
Associate JusticeHaruna Tsammani2024–present
Associate JusticeMoore Adumein2024–present
Associate JusticeJummai Sankey2024–present
Associate JusticeChidiebere Uwa2024–present
Associate JusticeChioma Nwosu-Iheme2024–present
Associate JusticeObande Ogbuinya2024–present
Associate JusticeStephen Adah2024–present
Associate JusticeHabeeb Abiru2024–present
Associate JusticeJamilu Tukur2024–present
Associate JusticeAbubakar Umar2024–present
Associate JusticeMohammed Idris2024–present

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Recruitment and Tenure of Supreme Court Justices in Nigeria.
  2. Web site: Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. www.nigeria-law.org.
  3. Web site: Nigeria Senate Confirms 8 Justices of the Supreme Court - The Guardian News Nigeria. 2020-10-13.
  4. Web site: Omogbolagun . Tope . Senate confirms 11 S’Court justices, urges more funding . . 22 December 2023 . 24 December 2023.
  5. Web site: Ogunseyin . Oluyemi . Senate confirms appointment of 11 Supreme Court judges . . 21 December 2023 . 24 December 2023.
  6. News: Enumah . Alex . Finally Supreme Court Attains Full Complement of 21 Justices - THISDAYLIVE . This Day . 26 February 2024 . en.

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