By Martin Paul, Abuja

Eight Justices of the Court of Appeal have been confirmed Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria by the Senate sequel to the report on the screening of the nominees.

The Senate Committee, led by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, All Progressives Congress (APC Ekiti Central) Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, screened the nominees for the appointments.

Presenting the report, Senator Bamidele said: “we wish to observe that these appointments satisfy the constitutional provision of section 231 (3) which stipulates a minimum of fifteen (15) years post call experience to qualify for appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. 

“Also, by virtue of paragraph 13 (a) (ii), Third Schedule to the Constitution, the Federal Judicial Service Commission is empowered to advise the National Judicial Council in nominating persons for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and the Federal Judicial Service Commission indeed, kick-started the process as required by the above constitutional requirement, before the nominees were forwarded to the National Judicial Council for recommendation to Mr President for the appointment.

“Currently, the composition of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as per geopolitical zones, which in the Committee’s view, is a fair reflection of the Federal Character Principle, as enshrined in Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is as follows: No. of Present Justices, No. of Justices upon Confirmation : North-East, 2; North-East, 4 (Including the Hon. CJN); North-West, 1; North-West, 4; North-Central, 2; North-Central, 2; South-East, 3; South-East, 3; South-West, 3; South-West, 4; South-South, 1 South-South, 3; Total is 12=20.

Bamidele said the committee noted: “That the appointment of the nominees, satisfied the requirement of Sections 230 (2) and 231 (1) and (2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which makes provisions for the appointment of Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and the Senate Standing Orders 2015, as amended.

“That the nominees possess the requisite qualifications, integrity, leadership qualities and comportment to discharge judicial responsibilities as Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

 “That upon confirmation of the appointment of the nominees by the Senate, all the Geo-political Zones will be represented by 3 or 4 Justices, as the case may be, except the North-Central Zone, which will maintain its current 2 Justices on the Bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“That the reason North-Central zone has 2 Justices unlike other zones, as indicated in paragraph 3 above, can be attributed to the fact that during the selection process, the nomination from the zone was stood down by the selection Committee for further review of the nomination by the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

 “Those necessary steps are being taken to meet the full complement of the maximum number of Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigerian, in line with the constitutional provision. 

In this regard, one more appointment from the North-Central Zone, which is in the offing, will complete the maximum number of Justices and balance the representation, across the geo-political zones.

Bamidele further disclosed that: “That the appointment of Eight (8) Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at one stretch, is a bold step taken by the President to further strengthen the Judiciary to meet up with the challenges of the 21st Century, being the first time ever that the country will be having 20 Justices on the Bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,

 “That there is no petition against the nominations of any of the nominees; the nominees having been widely supported and commended by a cross section of Nigerians on their nominations by Mr President, as Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“That there are no adverse reports against the nominees, as record checks and other forms of investigations by security agencies, did not reveal any negative trace against them.

“That the Committee is satisfied about their qualifications, experience, suitability, competence and integrity to assume the positions of Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and that the nominees are fit and proper persons for appointment as Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria”.

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan had penultimate week, read a letter dated August 31, from President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of the Justices.

Buhari in the letter said that the request for the confirmation of the eight Justices to the Supreme Court was in consonance with the provisions of section 231(2) of the 1999 Constitution and the advice of the National Judicial Council.