By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The Federal High Court of Nigeria has set out the modalities for appointment of new Judges by notifying all stakeholders and the general public of its procedure for appointment of more Nine (9) Judges.
Consequently, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice John Terhemba Tsoho (OFR) in exercise of his constitutional powers and following the approval by the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council, Honourable Dr. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola (GCON), wishes to notify all stakeholders and the general public of the scheduled appointment of further Nine (9) Judges.
It should be noted that this appointment is different from the pending process earlier approved for the appointment of the fifteen (15) Judges.
The exercise was approved for consideration of candidates for possible appointment to the Bench of the Federal High Court in order to fill the quota of some States which will commence soon. The States are Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Ogun and Oyo.
Therefore, in line with the National Judicial Council (NJC) Guidelines and Procedural Rules for Appointment of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts, the Honourable Chief Judge invites/enjoins Your Lordships, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association to kindly nominate suitably qualified persons from the aforementioned States for appointment to the Federal High Court Bench.
According to the release dated January 13, 2023 and signed by the Assistant Director Information, Federal High Court of Nigeria, Catherine Oby Christopher PH.D, all recommendations are to reach the Chambers of the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on or before the 28 of February, 2023.
Recall that on the occasion of the special court session held in Abuja to mark the commencement of the 2022/2023 legal year, the honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho stated in his speech that with the approval of the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the process of appointing fifteen (15) more judges for the court has reached advanced stage.
He also raised the hope that the honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria would further grant the approval to commence the process of further appointment of Nine (9) more judges in order to make up for the inadequate number of judges in the court.
The current number of Federal High Court judges stands at Seventy-seven which is short of the constitutionally set limit of One Hundred.
Meanwhile, activities at the Federal High Court across the country have fully commenced after three weeks Christmas vacation which started on December 19 2022 and ended January 09, 2023.
In Lagos Judicial Division, judges have commenced sitting except those that are on special assignment outside the division.