The National Judicial Council (NJC) has said that it is not aware of the shortlist of 22 justices made by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) for the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Barrister Soji Oye, NJC Director of Information stated that the nomination has not been brought to his knowledge.

It was reported that the FJSC sent a list of 22 Justices from the Court of Appeal for consideration by the NJC for elevation to the apex court.

On Thursday 16 November 2023, the FJSC released a list, which showed a regional distribution of nominees, with North-Central and South East each having six nominees, and North-East, South-West, and South-South each having two nominees, while North-West has four nominees.

This announcement was followed by the disclosure made in September 2023 that the Supreme Court’s Justices had reduced to 10 as against the 21 stipulated by the Constitution.

Below is the list of the nominated justices:

NORTH EAST:

Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani (Bauchi State)

Hon Justice Abubakar Talba (Adamawa State)

NORTH CENTRAL:

Hon Jummai Sankey (Plateau State)—Priority

Hon Justice Baba Idris (Niger State)—Priority

Hon Justice Stephen Adah (Kogi State)—Priority

Hon Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo (Plateau State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Ridman Maiwada Abdullahi (Nassarawa State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Benue State)—Reserve

NORTH WEST:

Hon Justice Muhammad Lawal Shuaibu (Jigawa State)—Priority

Hon Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Kebbi State)—Priority

Hon Justice Bello Aliyu (Zamfara State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero (Kano State)—Reserve

SOUTH-SOUTH:

Hon Justice Moore Adumein (Bayelsa State)—Priority

Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill (Rivers State)–Reserve

SOUTH EAST

Hon Justice Nwaoma Uwa (Abia State)—Priority

Hon Justice Anthony Ogakwu (Enugu State)—Priority

Hon Justice Obande Ogbuinya (Ebonyi State)-Priority

Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi (Abia State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua (Imo State)—Reserve

Hon Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (Imo State)—Reserve

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SOUTH WEST:

Hon Justice Adewale Abiru (Lagos State)—Priority

Hon Justice Olubunmi Oyewole (Osun State)—Reserve

Although the NJC Director of Information did not explicitly deny the nomination, he declined to confirm it on the ground that the proposal was not brought to the attention of his office.