Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu has said that the deteriorating integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary is driven by “politicisation of judicial appointments and lack of independence, amongst other issues”. Odinkalu raised the concern during a radio town hall meeting on Public Sector Integrity in Nigeria, organised by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG), …

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will swear in 58 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on Monday, 27 November 2023, as part of the programmes lined up to formally herald the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the apex court. No fewer than 114 applications were received by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) for the award of …

There is uneasy calm in Enugu State following intelligence reports that the State High Court 2 in the coal city, with Justice Romanus Odugu presiding, is contemplating the release of the two key suspects in a high-profile murder case. A dismissed police inspector, Daniel Dennis, 47, and an Enugu-based land commission agent, Chief Moses Nnamani, 57, are charged before Justice …

The 10th House of Representatives is ready to partner with the Senate and state assemblies to reach a common ground in the Nigerian constitutional amendment process. The Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Oluwole Oke, made this known in a phone interview with Sunday PUNCH in Abuja and said the legislature would continue to do its work in the …

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has nominated 22 Court of Appeal justices to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for elevation to the Supreme Court bench. According to an FJSC, the nominees represent each geopolitical zone. The North-Central and South-East regions have the largest share with six candidates each, while the South-West and South-South each have two nominees. The North-East …

As he clocked the mandatory retirement age of 70 years on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Dattijo Muhammad delivered a brutal criticism of the “absolute powers” of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), faulting the composition of the apex court’s panel that affirmed last 25th February election of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president, on Thursday. At the valedictory session in …

The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), on Thursday, announced the elevation of 58 lawyers to the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN). Among them are rights activist and arbitrator, Kayode Ajulo; wife of rights activist Femi Falana (SAN), Funmi, herself a women’s rights activist; and daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), Mrs. Folashade Alli. In a statement, the Chief …

A bill seeking the establishment of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin has passed its first reading at the Senate. Titled: North West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023, the bill passed through first reading during Tuesday’s plenary season of the Senate presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. …

A portion of the Supreme Court is on fire. The fire reportedly engulfed a side of the judges’ chamber of the apex court, with offices of three Justices said to have been burnt down. The spokesperson of the court, Festus Akande could not be reached as of the time of filling this report. The spokesperson for the Federal Fire Service, …

The Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA) has spoken of its plan to meet with the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Adebara, for the establishment of special court to handle disputes arising from businesses in the state. KWACCIMA President, Barrister Ronke Adeyemi told the media in Ilorin, the state capital, that issues pertaining to trade should not …