Acting CJN Calls For Nomination Of New Judges For The Supreme Court

Justice Tanko Muhammad, the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, has called on his colleagues in the Supreme Court to nominate suitable candidates for appointment as Supreme Court Judges.

The development came in respect to the demand of President Muhammadu Buhari, which called for constitutional requirements of 21 justices on the bench of the Supreme Court.

According to the report, the Supreme Court is left with 15 justice on the bench following the retirement of former CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Muhammad while speaking on the nomination stated that those who should be nominated must have proven competence to occupy the bench of the apex court.

The memo which was released was titled ‘Appointment of Six Justices to the Supreme Court of Nigeria’.

“By the provisions of section 230(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the Supreme Court of Nigeria shall consist of the CJN and such number of justices of the Supreme Court, not exceeding twenty-one, as maybe prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.”

“As there are 15 justices on the bench at present, it is necessary to take steps to fill the remaining six vacancies to make 21 justices.”

“I shall be grateful if you could nominate suitable candidates for consideration for appointment as justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria”.

The Acting CJN added in the memo that nominations should be accompanied with 10 judgments delivered by nominee in contested cases in the last two years preceding the date of nomination in the case of judicial officers and 10 Judgments obtained in contested cases five years preceding the date of nomination in the case of legal practitioners in private practice and certified by competent authorities.

The justices have up till Tuesday (today) to send in their nominees.