NJC Recommends 21 For Judicial Appointments
The National Judicial Council (NJC) at its 109th Meeting on June 25, 2025, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun recommends the appointment of two judges as Heads of Court: Hon. Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge of Ekiti State and Hon. Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State.
The NJC also recommended Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for appointment as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
These recommendations followed a careful consideration of various public complaints made against shortlisted candidates for the various positions and a rigorous interview by an 8-Member Interview Committee of the Council in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for Appointment of Judicial Officers.
The remaining successful 18 candidates who were recommended for appointment as Judges for different Jurisdictions are as follows:
Two High Court Judges for Cross River State:
1. Edu, Glory Bassey
2. Irem, Melody Bassey-
– Three High Court Judges for Ogun State: 1. Ojikutu, Adebayo Julius, Adewole,
2. Adejumoke Oluwatoyin,
3. Adebo, Oluyemisi Olukemi
– Three High Court Judges for Zamfara State:
1. Garba, Sirajo Aliyu,
2. Bashir, Rabi, and
3. Abdullahi, Nasiru;
Three Kadi for Sharia Court of Appeal, Zamfara State
1. Ibrahim, Jibril,
2. Muhammed, Sanusi Magami,
3. Shaa’ban Mansur
– One Kadi for Sharia Court of Appeal – Plateau State:
1.Badamasi, Kabir Adam
– One Judge for Customary Court of Appeal Ebonyi State: –
1. Ogodo, Lynda Nneka
– Four High Court Judges Katsina State: –
– 1. Dikko, Fadila Muhammad,
2. Abdulrahman, Shamsudden Yammama,
3. Abdullahi, Maryham Umaru, and
4. 4. Mohammed, Abubakar Dikko
The Council had at its 108th Meeting held on 29 and 30 April 2025, approved a new policy to publish the names of candidates for consideration for appointment as Judicial Officers and invited public input, receiving 86 comments and complaints. While 73 (85%) were favorable, 13 (15%) were adverse. However, five complaints lacked verifying affidavits and were not considered. The council dismissed four complaints but found merit in one, resulting in the affected candidate being dropped.
Additionally, the NJC approved the voluntary retirement of two judicial officers:
– Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre of the Ogun State High Court
– Justice H. O. Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court
