Court of Appeal Nominations: What President Tinubu's 48 Judicial Appointments Signal for Nigeria’s Justice System President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the nomination of 48 distinguished judges for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal, marking a significant intervention in strengthening Nigeria’s appellate justice system. Beyond the numbers, the nominations reflect a deliberate policy direction: institutional renewal, merit-based elevation, and strict adherence to federal character, all within the bounds of constitutional process. Strategic Importance of the Appointments The Court of Appeal occupies a critical position in Nigeria’s legal architecture, particularly in: ~ Electoral dispute resolution ~ Commercial and investment litigation ~ Constitutional interpretation ~ Labour and industrial relations Over the years, the court has faced serious capacity pressures. This latest batch of nominees is designed to ease workload bottlenecks, reduce delays, and improve the quality and speed of justice delivery nationwide. Profile of the Nominees: Experience and Institutional Depth The 48 nominees are drawn from State High Courts, the Federal High Court, the National Industrial Court, Customary Courts of Appeal, and Sharia Courts of Appeal, ensuring a broad spectrum of judicial expertise. Complete List of Nominees 1. Hon. Justice Ibrahim I. Mohammed — High Court, Benue State 2. Hon. Justice Augustine Lorhemen Ityonyiman — High Court, Benue State 3. Hon. Justice Ijohor Mbalamen Jennifer — High Court, Benue State 4. Hon. Justice Dennis Mbaafumega Igyuse — High Court, Benue State 5. Hon. Justice Jacob Azi Atsen — Customary Court of Appeal, Plateau State 6. Hon. Justice Veronica Julcit Dadom — Customary Court of Appeal, Plateau State 7. Hon. Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam — Federal High Court 8. Hon. Justice Nankwat Dawat Shaseet — High Court, Plateau State 9. Hon. Justice Abdulhameed Mohammed Yakubu — High Court, Gombe State 10. Hon. Justice Suleiman Yahaya Abubakar — High Court, Gombe State 11. Hon. Justice Mohammed Auwal Haruna — High Court, Gombe State 12. Hon. Justice Daurabo Suleiman Sikkam — High Court, Gombe State 13. Hon. Justice Nuhu Swuenti Adi — High Court, Taraba State 14. Hon. Justice Rosemary Indinya Kanyip — FCT High Court 15. Hon. Justice John Danladi Yakubu — High Court, Taraba State 16. Hon. Justice Dauda Njane Buba — High Court, Taraba State 17. Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado — National Industrial Court of Nigeria 18. Hon. Justice Safiya Badamasi Umar, SAN — High Court, Katsina State 19. Hon. Kadi Adam Salihu Yarima — Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State 20. Hon. Justice Ibrahim Abubakar Maude — High Court, Katsina State 21. Hon. Justice Sabiu Bala Shuaibu — High Court, Kebbi State 22. Hon. Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan — FCT High Court 23. Hon. Justice Abubakar Saddiq Bello — High Court, Kebbi State 24. Hon. Justice Shamsudeen Ja’afar — High Court, Kebbi State 25. Hon. Justice Vincent Nwali Nwanchor — High Court, Ebonyi State 26. Hon. Justice Thelma Adanna Achom — High Court, Ebonyi State 27. Hon. Justice Esther Awo Ota — High Court, Ebonyi State 28. Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite — Federal High Court 29. Hon. Justice Raphael Ajuwa — High Court, Bayelsa State 30. Hon. Justice Ebiyerin Goodness Omukoro — High Court, Bayelsa State 31. Hon. Justice Simon Warikiyei Amaduobogha — High Court, Bayelsa State 32. Hon. Justice Patience Ama Zoufa — High Court, Bayelsa State 33. Hon. Justice Abua Elias Ojie — High Court, Cross River State 34. Hon. Justice Emmanuel Agianpuye Ubua — High Court, Cross River State 35. Hon. Justice Ibitham Ukpai Abba — High Court, Cross River State 36. Hon. Justice Obo Awusa Obo — High Court, Cross River State 37. Hon. Justice Abodunde Monisola Oluwatoyin — Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State 38. Hon. Justice Jubril Babajide Kolapo Aladejana — High Court, Ekiti State 39. Hon. Justice Lucas Olukayode Ogundana — High Court, Ekiti State

Court of Appeal Nominations: What President Tinubu's 48 Judicial Appointments Signal for Nigeria’s Justice System President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the nomination of 48 distinguished judges for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal, marking a significant intervention in strengthening Nigeria’s appellate justice system. Beyond the numbers, the nominations reflect a deliberate policy direction: institutional renewal, merit-based elevation, and strict adherence to federal character, all within the bounds of constitutional process. Strategic Importance of the Appointments The Court of Appeal occupies a critical position in Nigeria’s legal architecture, particularly in: ~ Electoral dispute resolution ~ Commercial and investment litigation ~ Constitutional interpretation ~ Labour and industrial relations Over the years, the court has faced serious capacity pressures. This latest batch of nominees is designed to ease workload bottlenecks, reduce delays, and improve the quality and speed of justice delivery nationwide. Profile of the Nominees: Experience and Institutional Depth The 48 nominees are drawn from State High Courts, the Federal High Court, the National Industrial Court, Customary Courts of Appeal, and Sharia Courts of Appeal, ensuring a broad spectrum of judicial expertise. Complete List of Nominees 1. Hon. Justice Ibrahim I. Mohammed — High Court, Benue State 2. Hon. Justice Augustine Lorhemen Ityonyiman — High Court, Benue State 3. Hon. Justice Ijohor Mbalamen Jennifer — High Court, Benue State 4. Hon. Justice Dennis Mbaafumega Igyuse — High Court, Benue State 5. Hon. Justice Jacob Azi Atsen — Customary Court of Appeal, Plateau State 6. Hon. Justice Veronica Julcit Dadom — Customary Court of Appeal, Plateau State 7. Hon. Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam — Federal High Court 8. Hon. Justice Nankwat Dawat Shaseet — High Court, Plateau State 9. Hon. Justice Abdulhameed Mohammed Yakubu — High Court, Gombe State 10. Hon. Justice Suleiman Yahaya Abubakar — High Court, Gombe State 11. Hon. Justice Mohammed Auwal Haruna — High Court, Gombe State 12. Hon. Justice Daurabo Suleiman Sikkam — High Court, Gombe State 13. Hon. Justice Nuhu Swuenti Adi — High Court, Taraba State 14. Hon. Justice Rosemary Indinya Kanyip — FCT High Court 15. Hon. Justice John Danladi Yakubu — High Court, Taraba State 16. Hon. Justice Dauda Njane Buba — High Court, Taraba State 17. Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado — National Industrial Court of Nigeria 18. Hon. Justice Safiya Badamasi Umar, SAN — High Court, Katsina State 19. Hon. Kadi Adam Salihu Yarima — Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State 20. Hon. Justice Ibrahim Abubakar Maude — High Court, Katsina State 21. Hon. Justice Sabiu Bala Shuaibu — High Court, Kebbi State 22. Hon. Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan — FCT High Court 23. Hon. Justice Abubakar Saddiq Bello — High Court, Kebbi State 24. Hon. Justice Shamsudeen Ja’afar — High Court, Kebbi State 25. Hon. Justice Vincent Nwali Nwanchor — High Court, Ebonyi State 26. Hon. Justice Thelma Adanna Achom — High Court, Ebonyi State 27. Hon. Justice Esther Awo Ota — High Court, Ebonyi State 28. Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite — Federal High Court 29. Hon. Justice Raphael Ajuwa — High Court, Bayelsa State 30. Hon. Justice Ebiyerin Goodness Omukoro — High Court, Bayelsa State 31. Hon. Justice Simon Warikiyei Amaduobogha — High Court, Bayelsa State 32. Hon. Justice Patience Ama Zoufa — High Court, Bayelsa State 33. Hon. Justice Abua Elias Ojie — High Court, Cross River State 34. Hon. Justice Emmanuel Agianpuye Ubua — High Court, Cross River State 35. Hon. Justice Ibitham Ukpai Abba — High Court, Cross River State 36. Hon. Justice Obo Awusa Obo — High Court, Cross River State 37. Hon. Justice Abodunde Monisola Oluwatoyin — Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State 38. Hon. Justice Jubril Babajide Kolapo Aladejana — High Court, Ekiti State 39. Hon. Justice Lucas Olukayode Ogundana — High Court, Ekiti State