The Justices will be sworn in on Wednesday, September 20, by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Politics Nigeria gathers that the number of judicial officers on the Supreme Court’s bench would, however, reduce by one with Justice Amina Augie’s retirement on September 21, leaving the court with 11 Justices as against the total number of 21 provided in the constitution.
Dr. Festus Akande, the Supreme Court’s director of press and information, revealed in a statement on Sunday, September 17, 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 11:00am.
Akande said: “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 ist February, 2013; Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu from Oyo State, who became High Court Judge on 26th June, 2014; and Jane Esienanwan lyang 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.”