The National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the elevation of Justice Joseph Oyewole to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, alongside the appointment of 35 other candidates to various judicial offices across the country.
Justice Oyewole, who currently serves as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, was recommended for elevation to the apex court at the Council’s 110th meeting held on Tuesday.
In a statement released to journalists, the NJC disclosed that the approvals also covered the appointment of 27 judges to various State High Courts. The distribution includes Borno State (6), Niger State (4), Benue State (1), Taraba State (1), Plateau State (6), Delta State (4), and Ekiti State (5).
The Council further recommended the appointment of six Kadis to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger State (3), Taraba State (2), and Katsina State (1), as well as two Judges to the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.
According to the NJC, which is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, all recommendations followed a rigorous selection process. This included the review of public complaints and interviews conducted by a seven-member Interview Committee, in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.
The Council also approved a three-month extension of the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua. However, it urged Governor Hope Uzodinma to immediately begin the process of constituting the State Judicial Service Commission to facilitate the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the state.
Meanwhile, the NJC cleared the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Oyebola Ojo, of all allegations relating to financial recklessness, diversion of funds, and judicial misconduct.
The Council said its decision followed the consideration and adoption of the report of a three-member Investigation Committee set up to probe multiple petitions against Justice Ojo. The petitions were filed by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbediran; Mrs. Temitope Opeoluwa Fasina; and a joint petition by the Osun State Attorney-General, Hon. Oluwole Jimi Bada, alongside four individuals claiming to be members of the State Judicial Service Commission.
The petitioners alleged, among other issues, the unilateral suspension of judiciary staff, selective promotion practices, suspension of training programmes, disobedience of court orders, and misappropriation of funds. Specific allegations included the diversion of N7.4 million meant for judges’ and magistrates’ retreat, N5 million for robe allowances, and proceeds from e-affidavits.
After extensive sittings in which all parties were represented by legal counsel and presented witnesses, the committee ruled that the petition filed by the Attorney-General and others on behalf of the Judicial Service Commission was incompetent, as issues surrounding the commission’s membership were already before a court.
However, the committee held that the remaining petitioners had the legal standing to bring their complaints. It found that the suspension of judiciary staff followed due process and was based on recommendations from the appropriate disciplinary committee. It also ruled that matters relating to staff promotion and training fall under the statutory responsibilities of the State Judicial Service Commission.
The committee further found no evidence that Justice Ojo diverted robe allowances, misappropriated funds meant for a foreign retreat, withheld proceeds from e-affidavits, or personally benefited from any of the financial transactions in question. It concluded that none of the allegations amounted to judicial misconduct or a breach of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
Consequently, the committee recommended the dismissal of all petitions, a recommendation the Council accepted in full.
In another development, the NJC dismissed a petition against a Judge of the Delta State High Court, Justice Gentu E. Timi, over alleged professional misconduct linked to a chieftaincy dispute. The petition, filed by Prince Mbanefo Nwoko (KSC), accused the judge of misapplication of the law and abuse of court process in a dispute over the ancient stool of Idumuje-Ugboko.
However, before the Investigation Committee commenced its sitting, the petitioner formally withdrew the petition on February 17, 2025, citing the resolution of the dispute following the presentation of a staff of office to his client by Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori. The committee subsequently recommended the discontinuation of the matter, which the Council approved.
Similarly, the Council reversed the one-year suspension without pay earlier imposed on Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division. Justice Inyang had been suspended for breaching Rule 3(5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers after findings that she abused her office by granting inappropriate ex parte orders for the sale of assets belonging to Udeme Assets Limited at an interlocutory stage.
The Council noted that the petition against her was filed outside the six-month period allowed under its policy for lodging complaints. Based on this, the suspension was set aside.
The NJC also reviewed reports from its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees, which considered 39 petitions. Of these, 26 were dismissed for lack of merit, seven were recommended for further investigation, while two judicial officers were issued cautions.
One of the cautioned officers was found to have delivered judgment outside the constitutionally prescribed 90 days, contrary to Section 294(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and for using inappropriate language in response to a petition.
The Council reiterated its warning to judges against the indiscriminate grant of ex parte orders and advised Heads of Court to exercise caution in assigning complex cases to newly appointed judges.
It also constituted a committee to review requests submitted by nine dismissed judges of the Imo State Judiciary. However, the Council declined to entertain a fresh petition against the Acting Chief Judge of the Imo State High Court, Justice I. O. Agugua, noting that the same issues had already been considered and resolved on multiple occasions.
The statement was signed by the Deputy Director of Information of the NJC, Mrs. Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
NJC Elevates Justice Oyewole to Supreme Court, Approves 35 Other Judicial Appointments
