Real Reason President Buhari Delayed Appointment Of Southerners As Supreme Court Judges

Fresh facts have emerged on why President Muhammadu Buhari delayed the appointment of four Supreme Court Judges, despite recommendations by the National Judicial Council (NJC) since 2019.

According to SaharaReporters, the NJC had in October 2019 forwarded four names of judges for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court.

The names recommended to the President include Adamu Jauro (North-East), Emmanuel Agim (South-South), C. Oseji (South-South); and Helen Ogunwumiju (South-West).

Despite the recommendations last year, President Buhari refused to forward the names of the justices to the Senate for confirmation.

According to a Presidency source, Buhari refused to send the names because the North-West geopolitical zone did not have a candidate on the list.

“The President swore not to confirm the list until the candidate from the North-West was recommended by the National Judicial Council for appointment to the Supreme Court.

“The NJC just recommended the appointment of four other justices including Justice Mohammed Garba, who headed last year’s Presidential Election Petition Tribunal as Supreme Court judges. With this new development, President Buhari has decided to send the names of the eight Justices to the Senate for confirmation.

“Since the eight Justices will now be appointed at the same time, the Southerners among them who ought to have been appointed since last year will be on the same level with the Northerners recently appointed.”

KanyiDaily had reported on Friday, August 14, 2020, Buhari finally approved the appointment of four Supreme Court Judges from Northern Nigeria, including Justice Mohammed Garba who upheld his second term election.

The four new Supreme Court judges include Justice Mohammed Garba (from the North-West geo-political zone); Justices Tijjani Abubakar (from the North-East Zone); Justice Abdu Aboki (North-West Zone) and Mohammed M. Saulawa (North-west Zone).