While Nigeria’s Supreme Court continues to grow even leaner with the recent retirement of Hon. Justice Amina Augie, the Court of Appeal will be getting a boost on September 20, 2023, as additional new justices will be sworn in at the Supreme Court ceremonial hall by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
On Sunday 3 September 2023 Amina Augie, a ranking member of the apex court attained the mandatory retirement age of 70. Her formal valedictory session will take place on Thursday, September 21.
Her Lordship’s retirement will leave the court with 11 Justices instead of 21 prescribed by the Constitution.
The Supreme Court’s Director, Press and Information, Dr. Festus Akande, in a statement, announced that the swearing-in of the nine new Justices of the Court of Appeal will be held in the Main Court auditorium of the Supreme Court at 11:00 a.m.
According to the statement: “The Justices are: Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun from Kaduna State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on 24th May 1999; Binta Fatima Zubairu from Kaduna State, appointed a High Court Judge on 31st October 2001; and Peter Chudi Obiora from Anambra State, who was sworn-in as High Court Judge on 17th January 2005, respectively.
“Others are Justices Okon Efreti Abang from Akwa Ibom State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on 22nd June 2009; Asma’u Musa Mainoma from Federal Capital Territory appointed High Court Judge on 1st February 2013; Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu from Oyo State, who became High Court Judge on 26th June 2014; and Jane Esienanwan lnyang from Cross River State, who was sworn-in as High Court Judge on 12th February 2015.
“The rest are Justices Hadiza Rabiu Shagari from Sokoto State, who got elevation to the High Court Bench on 12th February 2015; and Paul Ahmed Bassi from Borno State, appointed to the High Court on 14th July 2017, respectively.
