The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended 28 candidates for appointment as judicial officers across six states, including 24 candidates for various State High Courts.
The recommendations cover the High Courts of Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun states, as well as the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
The Council disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
It said the recommendations were approved at its 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun.
According to the statement, the 28 nominees comprise 24 candidates for the various State High Courts and four candidates for the Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal.
The Council recommended Tijjani Jibrin Zololo as Grand Kadi of the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, while Abubakar Ishaku was recommended as Kadi of the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.
Similarly, Elshama Gwama Dimas and David Benjamin Pembi were recommended as judges of the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
The breakdown of the recommendations shows that Kano State has four nominees, Ebonyi State one, Edo State seven, Adamawa State seven and Ogun State five.
The full list of the 28 recommended candidates is as follows:
PLATEAU STATE SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL (GRAND KADI)
- Tijjani Jibrin Zololo
KANO STATE HIGH COURT
- Nafisah Yusuf Hassan
- Halima Yahuza Ahmad
- Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature
- Musa Ibrahim Umar
EBONYI STATE HIGH COURT
- Dickson Edmund Amaga
EDO STATE HIGH COURT
- Benson Osagie Osawaru
- Taiye Osayanmon Omoruyi
- Dorothy Ibhade Adamaigbo
- Festus Osagie Usiobaifo
- Pius Idemudia Oiwoh
- Majebi Samuel Amune
- Emike Jessica Imuekemhe
ADAMAWA STATE HIGH COURT
- Aminu Sa’ad
- Ibrahim Ulenda Musa
- Sadiq Giwa
- Musa Bala Mijinyawa
- Japhet Ibrahim
- Aliyu Bakari
- Yakubu Ahmadu
OGUN STATE HIGH COURT
- Olakulehin Luqman Abiola Oke
- Adebimpe Folusho Obienu
- Fatimat Adeola Daudu
- Rafiat Bolanle Kadiri
- Oludotun Olaniyi Osho
ADAMAWA STATE SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL (KADI)
- Abubakar Ishaku
ADAMAWA STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL
- Elshama Gwama Dimas
- David Benjamin Pembi
The NJC said the recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
