Their confirmation was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters during Thursday’s plenary.
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday confirmed a former chairman of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), Justice Haruna Tsammani from the North-East zone of the country and 10 others as Supreme Court justices.
The confirmation of the justices appointed by President Bola Tinubu to fill the vacancies on the apex court bench came barely 24 hours after the nomination notice.
Their confirmation was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters during Thursday’s plenary.
Recall that President Tinubu had asked the Senate to confirm the nominees who were recommended by the National Judicial Council to fill the vacant positions following the death and resignations of some justices in the apex court.
The justices confirmed alongside Justice Tsammani are Justice Moore Adumein from South-South zone, Justice Jummai Sankey from the North-Central zone, Justice Chidiebere Uwa from the South-East zone and Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme from the South-East zone.
Others are Justice Obande Ogbuinya also from South-East zone, Justice Stephen Adah from the North-Central zone, Justice Habeeb Abiru from the South-West zone, Justice Jamilu Tukur from the North-West zone, Justice Abubakar Umar from the North-West and Justice Mohammed Idris from the North-Central zone.
The chairman of the Senate Committee, Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno) while presenting his panel report, said the nominees possessed the requisite qualifications and experience to occupy the position and that there was no petition against them.
He, therefore, recommended their confirmation.
With the confirmation of the 11 justices, the Supreme Court now has the complete statutory requirement of 21 justices on its bench.
Speaking before the confirmation of the justices, some senators had expressed concerns over the delay in the appointment of justices for the Supreme Court bench.