The Senate has confirmed the 11 justices of the Supreme Court sent to it by President Bola Tinubu.

After consideration and adoption of a report by its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters at plenary yesterday in Abuja, the following were affirmed judges of the apex court: Haruna Tsammani (Northeast); (North-central); Chidiebere Uwa (Southeast) and Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South-east).

The rest are Obande Ogbuinya (Southeast); Stephen Adah(Northcentral); Habeeb Abiru (Southwest); Jamilu Tukur (Northwest); Abubakar Umar (Northwest) and  Justice Mohammed Idris (Northcentral).

Chairman of the committee, Tahir Monguno (APC Borno), said the nominees possessed the requisite qualifications and experience to take office.

With the confirmation, the court now has the full complement of 21 judges for the first time in history as required by law.

Contributing ahead of their confirmation, Seriake Dickson (PDP: Bayelsa) urged that in the event of subsequent vacancies, a provision for their immediate replacement should be made.

“Anytime these vacancies occur, they should be filled immediately.
“I want to draw that to the attention of the President. There shouldn’t be delay so that we don’t become a laughingstock,” he advised.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC: Ekiti) said it was important that those next in line should be screened and appointed immediately to avoid vacuum.

Orji Uzor Kalu (APC: Abia) stressed that funds allocated to the Supreme Court in the 2024 budget should be upwardly to ensure effectiveness.

He said: “The Senate should look at the budget of the judiciary because even the state courts are in a mess. How can they give good justice? This is not the way it was before; we were doing better.”