The National Judicial Council has recommended Hon. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole, JCA, for appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, alongside 35 other candidates for various judicial offices nationwide.
The decisions were reached at the Council’s 110th meeting held on Tuesday and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun.
Justice Oyewole, who is currently the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, emerged as the sole nominee for elevation to the apex court.
As part of efforts to strengthen judicial manpower across the federation, the Council also approved the appointment of 27 judges to State High Courts in Borno, Niger, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Delta and Ekiti states.
In addition, six Kadis were cleared for appointment to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba and Katsina states, while two judges were recommended for the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.
According to the NJC, all the appointments followed a thorough screening process that included the consideration of public complaints and interviews conducted in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines.
Beyond appointments, the Council extended the tenure of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua, by three months.
It also urged the Imo State Governor to urgently constitute the State Judicial Service Commission to enable the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge, warning that further delay could threaten judicial stability and independence in the state.
In a related development, the NJC cleared the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, of allegations bordering on financial misconduct, diversion of funds and abuse of office.
The Council upheld the findings of an investigative panel which found no evidence to support the claims and dismissed all petitions against him.
Similarly, a petition against a judge of the Delta State High Court, Hon. Justice Gentu E. Timi, arising from a chieftaincy dispute, was dismissed after the complainant formally withdrew the petition following the resolution of the matter.
The Council also reversed the one-year suspension without pay earlier imposed on Hon. Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, ruling that the petition against her was filed outside the stipulated six-month timeframe and concerned a matter already under appeal at the time it was submitted.
Overall, the NJC reviewed 39 petitions against judicial officers, dismissing 26 for lacking merit, ordering further investigation into seven, and issuing warnings to two judges.
The Council further cautioned judicial officers against the indiscriminate issuance of ex parte orders and advised Heads of Court to be careful when assigning complex cases to newly appointed judges.
It also set up a committee to examine requests for review submitted by nine dismissed judges of the Imo State Judiciary, while declining to entertain a fresh petition against the state’s Acting Chief Judge on grounds that the issues had already been exhaustively addressed.
On the administrative front, the NJC approved the voluntary retirement of two senior judicial officers, including the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division, Hon. Justice Obientobara Owupele Daniel-Kalio.
The Council also announced the death of two judicial officers between November and December 2025, expressing condolences to their families and the legal community.
