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The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has told the 11 newly appointed Supreme Court justices that they represent God on earth and will give account of their stewardship to Him one day. This statement was made during the swearing-in ceremony held on Monday.
Justice Ariwoola emphasized the importance of their roles, stating, “See yourselves as the representatives of God on earth, because any judgement given at this level can only be upturned in heaven”. He urged the justices to uphold their moral uprightness, integrity, and respect for the constitution and other extant laws in operation, describing these qualities as “unwavering and unassailable”.
The new justices, who transitioned from the Court of Appeal, include Justice Haruna Tsammani (Northeast), Justice Moore Adumein (South-South), Justice Jummai Sankey (North-central), Justice Chidiebere Uwa (South-east), Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South-east), Justice Obande Ogbuinya (South-East), Justice Stephen Adah (North-Central), Justice Habeeb Abiru (South-West), Justice Jamilu Tukur (Northwest), Justice Abubakar Umar (Northwest), and Justice Mohammed Idris (North-Central).
This appointment comes after a significant decrease in the number of Nigeria’s justices, which dropped to 10 on Oct. 22, 2023. The number had previously plummeted from 20 to 14 in June 2022, following the abrupt resignation of then CJN, Tanko Muhammad. The number further spiraled down to 10 as Musa Dattijo Muhammad, who had been on the Supreme Court bench for over a decade, retired on Oct. 27.
However, with the confirmation of the new justices, announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Dec. 21, 2023, the Supreme Court has now reached its full complement of 21 justices as mandated by law.
