Supreme Court loses judges as NJC reports deaths and retirements

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has announced the deaths and retirements of 14 judges from different courts across Nigeria.

In a statement by Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the NJC's Deputy Director (Information), this information was shared on Wednesday after the council's 112th meeting on 3 November.

The NJC, led by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, received notices for six retirements and nine deaths of judges.

These include judges from the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court, as well as various state High Courts and the Customary Courts of Appeal.

Two of the notices announced the retirements of two Supreme Court justices within less than two months. Ibrahim Saulawa, who became a Supreme Court justice in November 2020, retired on 29 September. He joined 103 former justices of Nigeria’s highest court.

Uwani Musa Abba Aji, who joined the Supreme Court in January 2019, will also retire on Saturday, 7 November.

With these retirements, the Supreme Court will have only 19 justices instead of its full number of 21. The court had just regained its full number in February with the inauguration of Olubunmi Oyewole.

Four additional retirement notices were recognized by the NJC during its meeting. Justice O. F. Omoleye of the Court of Appeal retired on 6 October.

Other judges who are retiring or have already retired include Ogechi Okehielem from the Abia State High Court, who voluntarily retired on 15 September, and Theresa Isidore Obot from the Akwa Ibom State High Court, set to retire voluntarily on 30 December. Munir Muhammad Ladan from the Kaduna State High Court will retire on 31 December.

The council also acknowledged the deaths of nine judges. These judges passed away between 1 May and 26 September.

The deceased include Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Kano, Sambo Sammy Daka from the Kaduna State High Court, Josephine Efunkumbi Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court, and Musa Mohammed Dallah from the Nasarawa State High Court.

Others are Bello Muhammed Shinkafi from the Zamfara State High Court, Edem Nyong Okokon from the Cross River State High Court, Aliyu Mani Yauri, a kadi of the Kebbi State Sharia Court of Appeal, Dorothy Sim Inwulale from the Kaduna State Customary Court of Appeal, and Legor Torbira Senewo from the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal.

The NJC expressed deep appreciation to the retired and retiring judges for their dedicated service to the Judiciary and the nation. It also sent its condolences to the families of the deceased judges, the judiciary, and the Nigerian legal community, praying for the peace of their souls.

According to the Nigerian constitution, the Supreme Court should have 21 justices, but it has struggled to maintain this number for years until 2024.

Deaths, retirements, a slow appointment process, and a lack of government commitment have made it hard for the Supreme Court to reach its full number.

The court finally achieved its full number for the first time in history, just months after it dropped to an all-time low of 10 justices in 2023.

On 26 February 2024, the Supreme Court grew to 21 justices with the appointment of 11 justices at once.

But in August that year, the number fell to 20 after the retirement of CJN Olukayode Ariwoola. It returned to 21 with the elevation of Mr. Oyewole to the Supreme Court in February this year.

During Mr. Oyewole’s inauguration on 25 February, CJN Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who administered the oaths, said having a full court is an important milestone.

She said, "A full court enhances our capacity to sit in strong panels and manage our docket better. It will help the business of the nation’s top court move with renewed energy. It brings more ideas and strengthens our legal framework. For a court that shapes the legal future of the nation, having enough justices is key to fulfilling our constitutional duties.”