The appointment of 8 Justices of the Supreme Court have been confirmed by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, following a report presented by the Chairman, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
Commending the process of appointment, Senator James Ebiowo who expressed satisfaction for a thorough report said, “From all indications, the Committee has done a very good work and as you all know appointment of Justices of the Court of Appeal is a process and particularly that the relevant sections of the law were cited.
“I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing the 8 Justices at a single stretch.
“I also want to commend the Committee for doing a thorough job having known the complexities involved.”
Also, the Senate Deputy President, Ovie Omo-Agege affirmed his confidence in the appointment as he explained that there was no petition from the members of the public to the Committee against any of the nominees, saying that the situation made them honourable for confirmation.
“What I applaud the Justices nominees was that there was no petition sent to the Committee opposing their nomination as a result of electoral matters while at the Court of Appeal seat.
Senator Gabriel Suswam, who is a member of the Committee confirmed, to the Senate that the nominees were thoroughly screened, stressing that they should be confirmed without hesitation.
“As a member of the Committee, I rise to support the report that they should be confirmed.
“Mr. President, we screened them and I want to say that these are men of honour and I ask that this Senate do approve their nomination without any hesitation.”
After they were confirmed by the Committee of the whole, Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan urged the Federal government to make funds available to the judiciary to enable them to discharge their duties.
The Justices who were confirmed are: Honorable Justice M. Lawal Garba – Northwest, Hon. Justice Helen M. Ogunwunmiju – Southwest, Hon, Justice Abdu Aboki – Northwest, Hon. Justice L. M. M. Saulawa, Hon. Justice Adamu Jarre – Northeast, Hon. Justice Samuel C. Oseji – South-South, Hon. Justice Tijjani Abubakar – Northeast and Hon. Justice Emmanuel A. Agim – South-South.
