21st December, 2023
By Kingsley Okoye
Eleven Justices nominated to fill the vacancies in the Supreme Court by President Bola Tinubu were confirmed on Thursday by the Senate, with a strident call by the lawmakers for improvement in the funding of the judiciary.
The new Supreme Court Justices were Jummai Sankey, Stephen Adah, Mohammed Idris, Haruna Tsammani, Jamilu Tukur, Abubakar Umar, Chidiebere Uwa, Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, Obande Ogbuinya, Moore Adumein and Habeeb Abiru.
The nomination of the 11 Justices were confirmed in a Committee of Whole of the upper chamber following the adoption of the report of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and legal Matters at the Committee of the Whole on Thursday.
Sen. Mohammed Monguno, the Chairman of the Committee who presented the report, said the request for confirmation of the nominees was in pursuant to section 231(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
He added that his committee at the screening received the curriculum vitae and other documents on the nominees to confirm their suitability for appointment as Supreme Court Justices.
“The nominees individually demonstrated knowledge and grasp on questions asked by members of the committee,” he said.
Monguno said there was no criminal record or petition against the nominees, saying that they all possed the requisite experience and competency to function as Supreme Court Justices.
Sen.Binos Yaroe (PDP-Adamawa), who seconded the motion for adoption of the report, said the nominees were all eminently qualified for appointment as Supreme Court Justices.
He said all the nominees emanated from the Appeal Courts, urging that efforts should be made in the near future to nominate law scholars who were suitable from the academia.
Former President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe) and former Senate Chief Whip, Sen.Orji Uzor-Kalu(APC-Abia) commended President Bola Tinubu for the nomination.
They called for improved funding of the judiciary, saying that improved funding would ensure speedy dispensation of justice.
“Let us give them more resources,” Lawan said.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said allocation of more resources for the judiciary would improve modern ways of justice dispensation, while also commending Tinubu for accommodating all zones in the nomination.
He congratulated the justices and prayed that God grant them wisdom and strength of character to carry out justice in Nigeria.