The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has released a list of 48 judges nominated for possible appointment to the Court of Appeal as part of an ongoing judicial elevation process that will culminate in the selection of 12 justices.
The nominations were disclosed in a public notice titled “Appointment of 12 Justices to the Court of Appeal Bench: Call for Comments,” published in the Saturday edition of ThisDay newspaper.
The notice, signed by the FJSC Secretary, invited members of the public to submit comments on the nominees in order to “enhance transparency and accountability in the appointment process.”
According to the commission, the list of 48 nominees was forwarded by the Court of Appeal, which initiated the appointment exercise. At the conclusion of the FJSC’s screening stage, 24 candidates are expected to be recommended to the National Judicial Council (NJC). The NJC will then conduct its own assessment, including interviews, before selecting the final 12 candidates to be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for appointment.
Among those on the long list is James Kolawole Omotosho, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who last November sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment on terrorism-related charges. Kanu is currently serving his sentence at a correctional facility in Sokoto.
Successful candidates are expected to fill vacant Court of Appeal slots allocated to 12 states – Benue, Plateau, Gombe, Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ekiti, Ogun and Ondo. Each state has four nominees on the long list, drawn from the state High Courts, Federal High Court, Customary Courts of Appeal and the National Industrial Court.
Longlisted nominees by state
Benue: Ibrahim Mohammed, Augustine Ityonyiman, Jennifer Ijohor, Dennis Igyuse.
Plateau: Jacob Azi Atsen, Veronica Dadom, Stephen Dalyop Pam, Nankwat Dawat Shaseet.
Gombe: Abdulhameed Mohammed Yakubu, Suleiman Yahaya Abubakar, Mohammed Auwal Haruna, Daurabo Suleiman Sikkam.
Taraba: Nuhu Adi, Rosemary Kanyip, Danladi Yakubu, Dauda Njane Buba.
Katsina: Sanusi Kado, Safiya Badamasi Umar (SAN), Adam Salihu Yarima, Ibrahim Abubakar Maude.
Kebbi: Sabiu Bala Shuaibu, Maryam Aliyu Hassan, Abubakar Saddiq Bello, Shamsudeen Ja’afar.
Ebonyi: Vincent Nwanchor, Thelma Adanna Achom, Esther Awo Ota, Emeka Nwite.
Bayelsa: Raphael Ajuwa, Ebiyerin Goodness Omukoro, Simon Warikiyel Amaduobogha, Patience Zoufa.
Cross River: Abua Elias Ojie, Emmanuel Ubua, Ukpai Abba, Obo Awusa Oto.
Ekiti: Monisola Oluwatoyin Abodunde, Jubril Aladejana, Lucas Ogundana, Olusegun Ogunyemi.
Ogun: James Kolawole Omotosho, Olugboyega Ogunfowora, Yetunde Pinheiro, Olufunke Sule-Amzat.
Ondo: Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, Orimisan Okorisa, Akinfemi Owoyemi, Ademola Enikuomehin.
Explaining the rationale for the publication, the FJSC said the exercise is aimed at soliciting public input on the “integrity, reputation and suitability” of the nominees. Members of the public were urged to submit written comments or complaints strictly on those grounds within 14 days of the notice.
Submissions may be delivered to the FJSC Secretariat at the Supreme Court Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, or sent via email to the commission’s official address.
Each complaint must be supported by a sworn affidavit deposed to before a superior court of record or a notary public.
The commission cautioned against false or unsubstantiated allegations, warning that such actions could attract sanctions. It stressed that all submissions must be specific and backed by sufficient details to enable proper assessment.
The policy of publishing nominees’ names for public scrutiny was introduced by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who chairs both the FJSC and the NJC.
The initiative was formally adopted at the NJC’s 108th meeting held on April 29 and 30, and was first implemented in May 2025 when 82 judicial nominees were published for public comment.