The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended 28 candidates for appointment as judicial officers in six states of the federation, including 24 High Court judges, a Grand Kadi, a Kadi and two judges of the Customary Court of Appeal.
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The recommendations were approved at the Council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON.
The NJC announced the decision in a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
According to the Council, the recommended candidates will serve in the High Courts of Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun states, as well as the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Plateau and Adamawa states and the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
For the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, the Council recommended Hon. Kadi Tijjani Jibrin Zololo for appointment as Grand Kadi.
Four candidates were recommended for appointment as judges of the Kano State High Court. They are Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
For the Ebonyi State High Court, the NJC recommended Amaga Dickson Edmund.
Seven candidates were recommended for appointment as judges of the Edo State High Court. They are Benson Osagie Osawaru, Taiye Osayanmon Omoruyi, Dorothy Ibhade Adamaigbo, Festus Osagie Usiobaifo, Pius Idemudia Oiwoh, Majebi Samuel Amune and Emike Jessica Imuekemhe.
The Council also recommended seven candidates for appointment to the Adamawa State High Court.
They are Aminu Sa’ad, Ibrahim Ulenda Musa, Sadiq Giwa, Musa Bala Mijinyawa, Japhet Ibrahim, Aliyu Bakari and Yakubu Ahmadu.
For the Ogun State High Court, five candidates were recommended. They are Olakulehin Luqman Abiola Oke, Adebimpe Folusho Obienu, Fatimat Adeola Daudu, Rafiat Bolanle Kadiri and Oludotun Olaniyi Osho.
The NJC further recommended Abubakar Ishaku for appointment as Kadi of the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.
For the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal, the Council recommended Elshama Gwama Dimas and David Benjamin Pembi as judges.
The recommendations bring the total number of candidates to 28, comprising 24 High Court judges, one Grand Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal, one Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal and two judges of a Customary Court of Appeal.
The distribution of the recommended High Court judges is seven each for Edo and Adamawa states, five for Ogun State, four for Kano State and one for Ebonyi State.
In its statement, the Council directed that the recommended candidates should be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in by their respective State Governors without delay,” the NJC stated.
The recommendations form part of the Council’s constitutional responsibilities concerning the appointment of judicial officers in Nigeria.
The NJC’s announcement concerns recommendations for appointment, while the formal swearing-in of the candidates remains to be carried out by the relevant state authorities.
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