By Ojo Jeremiah Oladipupo (Siwes student, Efon Poly)
President Bola Tinubu has formally sought Senate approval for the confirmation of 11 justices recommended for the Supreme Court.
The request was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary.
The National Judicial Council had put forth the nominees for the President’s consideration, selecting them from a pool of 22 Court of Appeal Justices screened by the NJC, led by Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Reportedly, the Supreme Court currently operates with 10 Justices instead of the constitutionally recommended 21, raising concerns, particularly due to uneven geographical representation.
The South-West and North-East have three Justices each, the South-South and North-West have two, while the South-East and North-Central currently lack representation.
This gap emerged following retirements and unfortunate passings, leaving both regions without a voice on the Supreme Court.
Tinubu’s letter included the names of the 11 shortlisted Justices, hailing from various regions.
The Senate President referred these nominees to the Senate Committee on Judiciary for thorough screening and legislative consideration.
If confirmed, the appointments would address the current imbalance, providing the South-East and North-Central with three representatives each on the Supreme Court bench.
