NJC Appoints New Judges, Elevates Justice Joseph Oyewole To The Supreme Court {Full List}

NJC Appoints New Judges

 

OpenLife Nigeria reports that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 35 judges for courts across the country and the elevation of Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.

The NJC took the decision, among others, at its 110th Meeting held on 13 January 2026, and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

A statement by the NJC’s Deputy Director (DD) Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, said besides Justice Oyewole, who currently presides at the Enugu division of the Court of Appeal, the NJC approved 27 candidates for appointment as judges of various High Courts.

They include six for Borno State High Court, four for Niger High Court, one for Benue, one for Taraba, six for Plateau, four Delta and five for Ekiti HIgh Court.

The NJC also recommended the appointment of six kadis for appointment to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba, and Katsina states.

It recommended the appointment of three kadis for Niger, two for Taraba and one for Katsina. The NJC also recommended the appointment of two judges to the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.

The statement said the “recommendations followed a rigorous screening process, including the consideration 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 statement gave the names of those recommend for appointment as judges, to include:
Borno State (Six Judges)
• Mustapha, Mallam Babagana
• Mustapha, Hadiza Grema
• James, Peter Bwala
• Zannah, Tijjani Babakura
• Alkali, Alhaji Umar Dunoma
• Yahaya Alhaji

For Plateau State High Court, the NJC recommended:

Maikai, Andrawus, Kparbong, Tongret Nanman Nkwap, Diane Ngummai Mantu, John Ishaku Bature, Gavou Musa Mallan and Kingsley Mangai.

For Ekiti High Court, it recommended:

Adegoke, Olanike Caroline Bamise, Julius Sunday Bamidele Ajibare, Julius Akinyede, Stephen Rotimi Anoma, Adefunke Helen.

For Niger, the NJC recommended:

Abubakar, Adamu Ahmed, Bala Ndajiwo Gambo, Sa’adatu Abubakar Wushishi, Sulaiman Buhari.

Delta has four recommendations:
Otite, Jonah Akporuaro Sam-Oligida; Jereoma Ukuli, Boeye Irene Adamidenyo and Otome Benjamin.

Taraba has one – Babagari, Mansura Mohammed as a judge of the High Court.

Niger State has three kadis:
Aboki, Usman Abdulrahman; Mohammed, Ya’aba Muhammad, and Nasir Ibrahim.

For the Taraba State’s Court of Appeal, Yakubu, Muhammad and Aliyu, Yahaya Abubakar were appointed as kadis, while Mutawakkil, Mustapha Salis was appointed as kadis for the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal.

For the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal, Ojeikere, Bridget Onome and Okah, Stella Ovuorieroro were recommended for appointment.