As Justice Amiru Sanusi retires from the Nigerian Supreme court’s bench on Monday, the entire number of Justices of the Supreme Court will drop from 14 to 13.
In a statement last October, the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) Director, Information, Mr Soji Oye, had stated that the council, at its meeting held on October 22 and 23, 2019, recommended Justices Adamu Jauro, Emmanuel Agim, C. Oseji, and Helen Ogunwumiju to be elevated to the Supreme court.
But President Buhari has refused to act on the list of the said four Justices of the Court of Appeal recommended by the National Judicial Council and sent to him for appointment to the apex court’s bench since that October 2019.
Reacting to this development on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, the association’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kunle Edun, said the delay in the process of appointing four judges recommended by the NJC for the apex court’s bench, had “created unhealthy burden on the Supreme Court Justices who are now forced to overwork themselves.”
He stated, “It is worrying that the Supreme Court has yet to have its full complement of Justices on the Supreme Court bench. The recent recommendation of the National Judicial Council on the elevation of some Justices of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court has yet to be acted upon by the Presidency and the Senate.
“The President is to approve the nominations and present the same to the Senate for confirmation.
“This delay has created an unhealthy burden on the Supreme Court Justices who are now forced to overwork themselves. In many cases, appeals stay in the Supreme Court for 10 years before one can get a hearing date.
“This should not be the case. When justice is delayed it could propel litigants to resort to other options to settle scores, which would not help the society.
“The Nigerian Bar Association, therefore, urges the Federal Government and all parties involved to consider the recommendations of the NJC quickly. It’s been about five months now and still nothing done.”