NJC recommends 28 judges for state courts across six states
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across six states, following its 112th meeting on Monday chaired by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The council approved 24 High Court judges for Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa, and Ogun states, plus one Grand Kadi for Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, one Kadi for Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal, and two judges for Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
The breakdown: Kano gets four High Court judges, Ebonyi one, Edo seven, Adamawa seven (plus one Sharia Court Kadi and two Customary Court judges), Ogun five, and Plateau one Grand Kadi. All appointees are expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay. The same meeting also saw NJC suspend three judges and warn seven others over disciplinary matters.
This addresses critical judicial vacancies that have slowed case resolution in affected states. Edo and Adamawa receive the largest batches (seven each), reflecting heavier caseloads or more vacancies. The appointments take effect once governors formalize them—no further federal approval needed.
With these additions, case backlogs in the affected courts should ease, but the real test is whether new judges deploy to divisions with the heaviest dockets. Will your state's governor swear them in promptly, or will political delays keep courtrooms understaffed?