News
NJC Recommends Wike’s Wife For Appeal Court, CJN’s Daughter-In-Law For High Court
Amid protests from various civil society organizations and individuals, the wife of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette, was among the high court Judges recommended for elevation to the Court of Appeal by the National Judicial Council NJC on Friday.
Also, the daughter-in-law of the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria,
was nominated for appointment as a Judge of the High Court, Federal Capital Territory at a meeting presided over by her father-in-law, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Justice Ariwoola is expected to bow out of Nigeria’s judiciary in August this year.
The NJC at the meeting, however, barred two Judges, Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court and Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court, from elevation to the Appeal Court for between two and three years and issued them warning letters.
Justice Ekwo was warned for the abuse of discretionary power by wrongly granting an ex-parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 others Vs Seplat Energy Plc & 12 others.
He was barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for two years.
Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court was issued a warning letter for failure to deliver judgment within the 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.
The Council, however, cautioned Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing a 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.
NJC at the meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, considered two reports of its two preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts.
It subsequently set up eight Committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees.
At the meeting, petitions against various Judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.
The dismissed petitions were against Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Justices Suleiman Bolaji Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Hon Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State, Hon Justice Okey Paulinus Aneke, High Court Enugu State and Hon Justice C. Anya of Abia State.
Others are Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, Hon Justices T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo State High Court, Hon Justice Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa State High Court, Hon Justice T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba State, High Justices W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, Hon Justice C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi State.
The Council received notification of the retirements of three Judicial officers including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and notification of the death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts.
NJC at the Meeting recommended 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.
22 high court judges are to be moved to the Court of Appeal and include Kwahar Polycarp, Terna, Ruqayat Oremei Ayool Eleojo Eneche, Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf, Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, Abdu Dogo, Fadawu Umaru, Ishaq Mohammed Sani, Zainab Bage Abubakar and Abdulazeez M. Anka.
The rest are Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu, Nwabunkeonye Onwosi, Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke, Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor, Ntong Festus Ntong, Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi, Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette, Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo, Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem, Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola and Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi.
The NJC recommended 12 persons for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and they are Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo, Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi, Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike, Odo Celestine Obinna, Hauwa Lawal Gummi, Abdurahman Usman, Buetnaan Mandy Bassi, Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh, Maryan Iye Yusuf, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike and
Munirat Ibrahim Tanko
Seven nominees were made for Imo State High Court and are Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi,
Uchenna Mary Njoku, Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze, Ononogbo Chidi Linus,Adaego Peace Nosiri, Emeka Ozoma Orafu and
Mathew Chinedu Ijezie.
The six nominees recommended for the Bauchi State High Court bench include Amin Umar Ilelah, Aliyu Bin Idris, Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi, Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf, Abdussalam Idris Waziri and Kawu A. Yerima.
Taraba State High Courthas three nominees comprising Hamidu Audu, Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma and Joel Daniel Ubandoma.
The 13 Judges nominees for Lagos high court bench are Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru, Azeez Fimisola Augusta, Alebiosu Olawale Lawal, Adewale Russel Musiliu, Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose, Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed, Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade, George Alfred Akingbola, Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu, Shonubi Adenike Kudirat, Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola, Layinka Oyeladun Amope and Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin.
Those picked for the Kogi State High Court bench are Ajesola Joseph Sunday, Ojoma Rachael Haruna, Kadiri Badama and Ezema Beatrice Ada while the two for Jigawa High Court are
Mohammad El-Usman and Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo.
Five Kadis were recommended for Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal and are Ishaku Magaji, Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo, Bello Mohammed Sambowal, Muhyiddeen Mohammed and Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin,
The five for the Kogi State Sharia Court of Appeal comprised Muhammad Muhammad Bello, Okino Isah Saidu, Yakubu Adavenge Abbas, Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu and Idris Alhaji Abdullahi
while one for the Jigawa Sharia Court of Appeal is Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam.
Imo State Customary Court of Appeal has three nominees and they are Everyman Ezenna Eleanya, Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna and Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi while the two for Taraba State are Esther Tata and Benjamin Samuila Bawage.
Maryann Oziohu Otaru is the only nominee for the Kogi State Customary Court of Appeal.
A statement on Friday by the NJC Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye said all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors.
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a couple from their residence in the Iluabo area of Akure North Local Government, Ondo State.
During the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, February 21, 2026, the assailants shot one person before seizing the victims.
The gunmen had stormed Olaribigba Estate in the community when they whisked Mr Jamiu Olawale and his wife into the bush.
Following the development, which has created tension in the agrarian community, residents protested and barricaded the road leading to the community over the incessant kidnappings and insecurity in the community.
According to sources, the couple had arrived at their residence in an ash-coloured Toyota Camry when they were attacked by the gunmen, who lay in ambush for them.
During the incident, a neighbour of the abducted couple, Patrick Ilumaro, who was seated in front of his residence, was shot by the gunmen while fleeing from the community.
A neighbour of the victims revealed that Ilumaro was swiftly rushed to an undisclosed medical facility where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
While confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Command disclosed that tactical teams as well as conventional operatives have been deployed to the community.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the operatives are already combing the axis in an effort to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
“Concerted efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe return of the abducted persons and bring those responsible to justice.
“Members of the public are urged to remain calm and go about their lawful activities. Meanwhile, the Command urges them to provide credible and actionable information that may assist in the investigation to the nearest police station.”
One person died and four others were rescued following a road accident at Ekoro Junction, Abule-Egba, on Friday evening, according to a statement from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, made this known in a statement issued on the agency’s X handle on Saturday.
According to the agency, the crash occurred at about 7:30 p.m. when an empty MACK tanker suffered a sudden brake failure, lost control and rammed into a Toyota Corolla before crashing into a roadside shop.
LASTMA said the tanker, with registration number EKY 900 XY, collided with a Toyota Corolla marked AAA 823 AY.
The impact caused extensive structural damage to the shop and triggered panic among traders and pedestrians in the area.
“The magnitude of the collision led to the immediate confirmation of one fatality at the scene, while four other trapped persons were extricated from the wreckage through coordinated emergency rescue efforts,” the agency stated.
The authority said it immediately activated its Rescue and Recovery Protocol, deploying specialised operatives to manage the situation.
“Personnel implemented strategic traffic diversion, vehicular evacuation procedures and crowd management in synergy with other emergency responders to forestall secondary incidents and guarantee unobstructed access for rescue operations,” LASTMA added.
It stated that emergency teams carried out rescue operations and provided medical attention to the injured victims.
According to the agency, a heavy-duty tow truck was later deployed to evacuate the damaged tanker and clear debris from the road to restore normal traffic flow.
The agency disclosed that the tanker driver fled the scene shortly after the crash and security operatives have since launched efforts to apprehend the driver and initiate legal proceedings.
“Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Ekoro Division, responded expeditiously, maintaining public order, securing the accident perimeter and assisting in investigative processes aimed at establishing the precise sequence of events that culminated in the mechanical failure and subsequent collision.
“The incident precipitated considerable traffic congestion extending across adjoining routes toward Abule-Egba, necessitating robust traffic management interventions by LASTMA officials who remained on ground directing vehicular movement and implementing diversion strategies to alleviate the backlog,” it said.
According to the agency, its General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged transport operators, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, to prioritise routine vehicle maintenance.
“Preventable mechanical deficiencies remain a significant contributory factor in severe road traffic crashes,” Bakare-Oki said.
He also advised motorists to exercise vigilance, obey traffic regulations and maintain responsible driving practices, especially within densely populated commercial corridors.
Bakare-Oki assured the public that security agencies would conduct a thorough investigation to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.
The agency said other emergency responders at the scene included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Ambulance Service, the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, collaborated to coordinate rescue, medical response and environmental safety measures.
The Department of State Services (DSS) will arraign former Governnor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court has fixed the date for the arraignment of the former Governor on a three-count criminal charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho assigned the case to her.
NAN earlier reported that the DSS, on Monday, filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, instituted by the Nigerian secret police, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The service accused El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)
In court, El-Rufai was alleged to have, on Feb. 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
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News2 days agoMaureen Badejo To Appear Before Federal High Court Tomorrow On Defamation, Cybercrime Charges
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News1 day agoCourt Sets Feb 25 For El-Rufai’s Arraignment In DSS Cybercrime Case
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News2 hours agoCouple Kidnapped, One Shot In Ondo Estate Attack
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