The National Judicial Council (NJC) has nominated Justice Kayode Oyewole of the Court of Appeal for elevation to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The decision was reached at the Council’s 110th meeting held on January 13, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. Justice Oyewole, who currently heads the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, was recommended alongside 35 other candidates for judicial appointments at both federal and state levels.
As part of the exercise, the NJC approved the appointment of 27 new Judges to State High Courts across seven states, Borno (six), Plateau (six), Ekiti (five), Niger (four), Delta (four), Taraba (one) and Benue (one). The Council also recommended the appointment of six Kadis to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba and Katsina States, as well as two Judges to the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.
According to the Council, all recommendations followed a rigorous screening process involving public input, interviews and assessments conducted in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines.
The NJC further approved a three-month extension of the tenure of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice I. O. Agugua, while urging the state governor to immediately commence the process of appointing a substantive Chief Judge in the interest of judicial stability and independence.
On disciplinary matters, the Council cleared the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo, of allegations relating to financial impropriety and judicial misconduct, adopting the findings of an investigative committee which found no evidence of fund diversion, abuse of office or disobedience to court orders.
The Council also struck out a petition against a Delta State High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Gentu E. Timi, following the withdrawal of the complaint after the settlement of the underlying chieftaincy dispute.
In a separate resolution, the NJC lifted the one-year suspension without pay earlier imposed on Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, after determining that the petition against the Justice was statute-barred and related to issues already before an appellate court.
Out of 39 petitions considered at the meeting, 26 were dismissed for lack of merit, seven were referred for further investigation, while two judicial officers were cautioned. The Council also reiterated its warning to courts against the indiscriminate issuance of ex parte orders.
Additionally, the NJC constituted a committee to consider review requests submitted by nine dismissed judicial officers of the Imo State Judiciary, but declined to entertain a fresh petition against the Acting Chief Judge of the state.
The Council also approved the voluntary retirement of two senior judicial officers and announced the deaths of two others between November and December 2025, extending condolences to their families and the Nigerian legal community.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
