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The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, will inaugurate 12 new judges for the FCT High Court on July 10, 2024. Notable appointees include his daughter-in-law, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, and Wike’s daughter, Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike. This significant judicial ceremony emphasizes Nigeria's commitment to judicial reform.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is set to swear in 12 new judges for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on July 10, 2024. The ceremony will take place at 10 am in the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court.

The new judges include Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, the CJN’s daughter-in-law, and Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike, daughter of former Governor Nyesom Wike. This development is part of a broader effort to bolster the judiciary with qualified individuals.

The full list of the 12 judges to be inaugurated is as follows:
  1. Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria (Oyo State)
  2. Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo (Kwara State)
  3. Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi (Lagos State)
  4. Iheabunike Anumaenwe Godwin (Imo State)
  5. Odo Celestine Obinna (Enugu State)
  6. Hauwa Lawal Gummi (Zamfara State)
  7. Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh (Bayelsa State)
  8. Maryam Iye Yusuf (Kogi State)
  9. Buetnaan Mandy Bassi (Plateau State)
  10. Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike (Rivers State)
  11. Ibrahim Tanko Munirat (Bauchi State)
  12. Abdulrahman Usman (Taraba State)
This inauguration follows a recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC), which, on May 17, 2024, advised the appointment of 86 judicial officers for various federal and state courts across Nigeria. The NJC's Interview Committee on the Appointment of Judicial Officers conducted the selection during its 105th plenary meeting on May 15-16, 2024.

Soji Oye, the Director of Information at NJC, confirmed these appointments, emphasizing the council’s dedication to enhancing the judiciary's effectiveness by filling vacant judicial positions with competent judges.

This appointment is seen as a significant step toward ensuring that the FCT High Court operates with a full bench, thereby improving the administration of justice and reducing case backlogs. The public and legal community eagerly anticipate the positive impact these new judges will have on the judicial system.