The National Judicial Council (NJC) has disowned a list containing names of nominated justices of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. The council says that it was not aware of or did not receive the nomination list for Supreme Court vacancies from the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
Director of Information of the NJC, Soji Oye made this clarification that he never had any discussion with anybody regarding receiving or not receiving the list of Justice nominees from the Federal Judicial Service Commission. He described the social media reports on the matter as deliberate handiwork of mischief makers. Reports on such matters are always by an official press statement from the Council through the office of the director of information.
Mr. Oye cautioned against unverified reports circulating on social media regarding Supreme Court nominations and the process being followed to fill vacancies on the bench. On 16th November reports stating that the FJSC released 22 names for NJC’s consideration to fill vacancies at the Apex Court gained traction in the media. The nomination reportedly includes the regional distribution of candidates across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. In the report, the nomination of Justices for the bench followed complaints in September the Supreme Court was operating with only 10 out of its constitutional strength of 21 Justices. Based on the depletions of Justices due to retirement and deaths, it was reported that the FJSC subsequently submitted a shortlist to address the vacant positions.
