The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will administer the oath of office to nine new Justices of the Court of Appeal on September 20.
As a result of Justice Amina Augie’s retirement on September 21, the number of judicial officers on the Supreme Court’s bench will decrease by one, leaving the court with 11 Justices as opposed to the maximum of 21 stipulated by the Constitution.
The Supreme Court’s Director of Press and Information, Dr. Festus Akande, announced in a statement that the swearing-in ceremony for the nine new Justices of the Court of Appeal will take place in the Supreme Court’s Main Court auditorium at 11 a.m.
He added, “The Justices are Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun from Kaduna State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on May 24, 1999; Binta Fatima Zubairu from Kaduna State, who was appointed a High Court Judge on October 31, 2001; and Peter Chudi Obiora from Anambra State, who was sworn-in as a High Court Judge on January 17, 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 remaining justices are Hadiza Rabiu Shagari of Sokoto State, who was elevated to the High Court Bench on February 12, 2015, and Paul Ahmed Bassi of Borno State, who was appointed to the High Court on July 14, 2017, respectively.
In the meantime, Justice Amina Adamu Augie will retire from the Supreme Court Bench on Thursday, September 21, 2023, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Sunday, September 3, 2023.
“The valedictory court session in her honour was delayed as a result of the Court’s annual vacation, which concluded on September 15, 2023.
“On November 7, 2016, Justice Amina Augie was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court.”
“She was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 after graduating with a Second Class Upper Division in Law from University of tfe (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1977.
With her retirement, the Supreme Court now consists of eleven justices.
