Appeal Court gets nine new Justices Wednesday, even as Supreme Court Justices will reduce to 11. This is because, Justice Amina Adamu Augie will formally retire from the Supreme Court Bench on Thursday, September 21, 2023 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years on Sunday, September 3, 2023.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Come Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the number of Justices of the Court of Appeal will increase by nine even as Supreme Court Justices will reduce by one on Thursday, September 21.
On Wednesday, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will administer the oath of office on the new Justices.
The number of judicial officers on the Supreme Court’s bench would, however, reduce by one with Justice Amina Augie’s retirement on September 21, leaving the court with 11 Justices as against the total number of 21 provided in the Constitution.
Supreme Court’s Director, Press and Information, Dr. Festus Akande, said in a statement that the swearing in of the nine new Justices of the Court of Appeal will hold in the Main Court auditorium of the Supreme Court at 11:00am.
He added: “The Justices are: Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun from Kaduna State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on 24th May, 1999; Binta Fatima Zubairu from Kaduna State, appointed a High Court Judge on 31st October, 2001; and Peter Chudi Obiora from Anambra State, who was sworn-in as High Court Judge on 17th January, 2005, respectively.
“Others are Justices Okon Efreti Abang from Akwa Ibom State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on 22nd June, 2009; Asma’u Musa Mainoma from Federal Capital Territory, appointed High Court Judge on 1st February, 2013; Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu from Oyo State, who became High Court Judge on 26th June, 2014; and Jane Esienanwan lyang from Cross River State, who was sworn-in as High Court Judge on 12th February, 2015.
“The rest are Justices Hadiza Rabiu Shagari from Sokoto State, who got elevation to the High Court Bench on 12th February, 2015; and Paul Ahmed Bassi from Borno State, appointed to the High Court on 14th July, 2017, respectively.
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“Meanwhile, Justice Amina Adamu Augie will formally retire from the Supreme Court Bench on Thursday, 21st September, 2023 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years on Sunday, 3rd September, 2023.
“The valedictory court session in her honour was delayed because of the annual vacation of the Court which just ended on Friday, 15th September, 2023.
“Justice Amina Augie was sworn in as Justice of Supreme Court on 7th November, 2016.
“She graduated with a Second Class Upper Division in Law from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1977 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978.
“With her retirement, the Court is now left with 11 Justices.”