Justice John Tsoho, the chief justice of the Federal High Court, has invited Abubakar Malami, the federation’s attorney general, to recommend competent individuals for appointment as judges of the court.
In accordance with the National Judicial Council’s Guidelines and Procedural Rules for Appointment of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts, Mr. Tsoho also invited Yakubu Maikyau, the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, for the nomination.
The NBA president said the candidates for the appointment should be from Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Ogun, and Oyo. This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by Catherine Oby-Christopher, the FHC’s spokesperson.
“The Federal High Court of Nigeria wishes to notify all stakeholders and the general public of its further appointment of nine (9) judges,” the statement titled ‘Appointment of Further Nine Judges for the Federal High Court Bench’ stated.
Mr. Tsoho said that the appointment of the nine judges was different from the ongoing process for the appointment of the 15 judges who had already been approved by Olukayode Ariwoola, the chairman of the NJC and the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The chief judge of the FHC explained that “the exercise for the consideration of candidates for possible appointment to the Bench of the Federal High Court with regards to some states will commence soon.”
“The states include Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Ogun and Oyo. In line with the NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for Appointment of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts, the Honourable Chief Judge, therefore, invites Your Lordships, the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the President Nigerian Bar Association to kindly nominate suitably qualified persons from the aforementioned states for appointment to the Federal High Court Bench,” said the statement, adding that “all recommendations are to reach the Chambers of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on or before the 28 February 2023.”
