NJC Okays Appointment of 35 Judges: The Full List

By Eteteonline

At its 110th meeting, which took place on January 13 to 14, 2026, and was chaired by Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the National Judicial Council (NJC) authorized the appointment of 35 new judges nationwide.

The Council approved 27 individuals to serve as judges of State High Courts in seven different states: Borno, Niger, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Delta, and Ekiti. The NJC approved the appointment of two judges to the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State and six Kadis to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba, and Katsina States.

Breakdown of approved appointment

Supreme Court

1. Justice Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole (currently a Justice of the Court of Appeal (Enugu Division).

High Court Judges across seven states

Borno State

1. Babagana Mustapha
2. Hadiza Grema Mustapha
3. Peter Bwala James
4. Tijjani Babakura Zannah
5. Umar Alkali
6. Yahaya Alhaji Dunoma

Plateau State

1. Andrawus Maikai
2. Tongret Nanman Kparbong
3. Diane Ngummai Nkwap
4. John Ishaku Mantu
5. Gavou Musa Bature
6. Kingsley Mangai Mallam

Ekiti State

1. Olanike Caroline Adegoke
2. Julius Sunday Bamidele Bamise
3. Julius Ajibare
4. Stephen Rotimi Akinyede
5. Adefunke Helen Anoma

Niger State

1. Adamu Abubakar
2. Bala Ndajiwo Ahmed
3. Sa’adatu Abubakar Gambo
4. Sulaiman Buhari Wushishi

Delta State

1. Jonah Akporuaro Otite
2. Jerooma Sam-Oligida
3. Boeye Irene Ukuli
4. Otome Benjamin Adamidenyo

Taraba State

1. Mansura Mohammed Babagari

Sharia Courts of Appeal

Niger State

1. Usman Abdulrahman Aboki
2. Ya’aba Mohammed
3. Nasir Ibrahim Muhammad

Taraba State

1. Muhammad Yakubu
2. Yahaya Abubakar Aliyu

Katsina State

1. Mustapha Salis Mutawakkil

Customary Court of Appeal

Delta State

1. Bridget Onome Ojeikere
2. Stella Ovurororo Okah

Other Council decisions

1. Extended the acting appointment of the Chief Judge of Imo State by three months.
2. Cleared the Chief Judge of Osun State of allegations related to financial misconduct.
3. Reversed a suspension of a Court of Appeal justice in Uyo Division due to procedural issues in the petition that triggered it.

These appointments and elevations aid in filling judicial positions in order to guarantee that courts have enough judges to manage their caseloads and provide prompt justice.