Screens: Fill Supreme Court Vacancies As They Occur, Senate Tells NJC

The Senate, yesterday, screened the 11 newly appointed justices of the Supreme Court behind closed doors.

The lucky justices included Haruna Tsammani (Northeast), who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Court; Moore Adumein (South-South), Jummai Sankey (North-central), Chidiebere Uwa (South-east) and Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South-east).

Others were Justice Obande Ogbuinya (South-east); Justice Stephen Adah(North-central); Justice Habeeb Abiru (South-west); Justice Jamilu Tukur (Northwest); Justice Abubakar Umar (Northwest), and Justice Mohammed Idris (North-central).

Currently, the Supreme Court operates with only 10 justices, falling short of the statutory requirement of 21 judges.

But, if confirmed, it would mark the first time in history that the Supreme Court reached its full complement of 21 justices, as mandated by law.

The senate screening, yesterday, was the final round of the confirmation process, after a more thorough screening had been done by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

In addition to those, the justices had equally undergone various security screenings, including by the Department of State Security, the police and all relevant authorities.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had earlier at plenary, read President Bola Tinubu’s letter, seeking confirmation of the 11 justices to the Supreme Court.

The 11 Justices were recommended by the NJC for Tinubu’s approval to fill the vacant positions at the Supreme Court,following deaths and resignations of some justices.

Nevertheless, the president has the exclusive powers to approve the appointment of the candidates subject to Senate’s confirmation.

Meanwhile, the senate leadership, has appealed to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to avoid fire brigade approach in the appointment of Supreme Court Justices, going forward.

Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, stated this shortly before the session dissolved into closed session. He faulted a situation,where vacancies in the apex court were not filled as at when due.

He said, “I have this to say, first, to the appointing authorities. The last time we experienced this kind of thing was three years ago when I was chairman of the Senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal matters and we had to take dates of My Lord Justices together just like we are having today and today, it is 11 of you.

“My appeal on behalf of all of us to the appointing authorities is the need to avoid this kind of situation. These positions did not just become vacant in one day.

“I recall with a sense of patriotic pain how long this committee had to wait even some days, after the list had been sent by the National Judicial council and the Senate had to wait for close to nine months for the names to be forwarded for whatever reason, either they waited for one person or the other to make their list.

“Today, 11 people. My hope and prayer is that in the Supreme Court already, we don’t have a class of 8. I pray that is not happening but please let us not have a class of 11.

“As these vacancies occur, it is important that those who are next in line be screened and appointed immediately.

“To the federal government, generally, I will also want to say that what is happening here today also has its financial implications and the budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should speak to it.

“Appointment of judges comes with certain fiscal responsibility. They must have offices, they must have accommodation, they must be able to do their work with the basic paraphernalia of office including their vehicles.

“Let it not be that after this exercise, the NJC would now be saddled with the responsibility of having to run from pillar to post to ensure that My Lords are able to settle down and of course to the entire public who also are interested in what is going on today.

“What we are doing in the Senate through this committee is a final round of the confirmation process. Screening has been done thoroughly by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC). So, between FJSC and NJC, a lot has been done.

“We are not here to begin to look into the circumstances of birth of any of the nominees. The manner of judgement they delivered in the past. We are not saddled with that responsibility.

“Let no one be surprised that these names were read today on the floor of the Senate and were referred to the committee and tomorrow this committee is expected to submit its report back to plenary.

“It is because we know that major screening has been done, including security screening by the department of security service, by the police and all relevant Authority.

“This is the only committee where every member is a professional, every member of this committee is a lawyer,” he emphasised.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Tahir Monguno, said the legislature had a responsibility to, “jealously guard the independence of the judiciary,” by insulating it against abuses.

He cited insufficient funding as one major problem of the judiciary, which he said the Senate was addressing in the 2024 budget.

Monguno added that the National Assembly was ready to work closely with the judiciary to bring about needed reforms in the country’s body of laws.

“We are going to collaborate to bring about necessary reforms in our laws; to bring them in tandem with the realities of today.

“We want the Supreme Court to have its full complement, so that their work would be unhindered,” Monguno stated.