The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, has sworn eleven justices to the bench to fill existing vacancies on the Supreme Court, charging them to have moral uprightness and respect for the constitution.

President Bola Tinubu had recommended 11 justices to the Senate for confirmation, as recommended by the National Judicial Council for the Supreme Court bench.

This brings to 22 the number of Justices at the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice inclusive. This is the full complement of Justices with representation from all the geo-political zones of the country.

Following the president’s request, the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters screened the Justices, and their confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Committee. The chairman of the committee, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno), submitted the screening report before their confirmation.

The justices sworn in are Justice Haruna Tsammani (Northeast), who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Court, Justice Moore Adumein (South-South), Justice Jummai Sankey (North-central), Justice Chidiebere Uwa (South-east); and Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South-east)

Others are Justice Obande Ogbuinya (South-East), Justice Stephen Adah (North-Central), Justice Habeeb Abiru (South-West), Justice Jamilu Tukur (Northwest), Justice Abubakar Umar (Northwest), and Justice Mohammed Idris (North-Central).

With the swearing-in of the judges, the number of new justices on the bench will be the highest ever, surpassing the record of eight who assumed office in November 2020. It will also be the first time in history that the court will have a full complement of 22 Justices (21 Justices and the Chief Justice), as stipulated in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

Speaking at the event, the chief justice of Nigeria, urged the new justices to see themselves as God’s representatives whenever they are delivering their judgments in the court of law.

Further pleading with the judges to uphold their objectivity in discharging their legal duties to society in the face of criticism, Justice Ariwoola added that they must continue to exhibit the intelligence and obvious dedication to hard work that characterize judicial excellence.

“Your moral uprightness, integrity and respect for the constitution and other extant laws in operation, must be unwavering and unassailable”, he said and urged the new Justices to see themselves as the representatives of God on earth, because “any judgement given at this level can only be upturned in heaven”.

The CJN told the new Justices that their elevation to the Supreme Court Bench is in recognition of their astuteness and evident passion for hard work, which is the hallmark of judicial excellence.

“You can please human beings, especially litigants. The easiest way to fail in life is by trying to please everyone. The only deity you can fear is the Almighty God”, he said and added, “Once your judgement is in consonance with what God expects from you, and is also in accordance with the Constitution, you should consider yourself the happiest and freest person on earth,” he said.

He urged them to put in their best as seasoned judicial officers transiting from the Court of Appeal and had established remarkable acquaintances with judicial oaths and roles guiding the conduct of judicial officers.

The current situation at the Supreme Court may not last long should it suffer depletion in its numbers again, however, this could be averted if attention is paid to the factors that got it to where it has been.