National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the elevation of 12 judges to the Court of Appeal, in a move aimed at filling vacancies caused by retirements and previous promotions across the judiciary.

The recommendation was made during the council’s 111th meeting chaired by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and has been forwarded to Bola Tinubu for approval, according to a statement by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.

Those listed for elevation include Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice James Kolawole Omotosho, Justice Yakubu Mohammed, Justice Abodunde Oluwatoyin and Justice Ajuwa Raphael, alongside seven others.

The council said the appointments are intended to strengthen the courts and improve justice delivery nationwide. It also approved the appointment of Christine Ende as a High Court judge in Benue State and nominated two Kadis for the Sharia Court of Appeal in Katsina State.

The NJC extended the tenure of Justice Ijeoma Agugua as acting chief judge of Imo State for another three months to allow completion of the process for appointing a substantive chief judge.

In disciplinary actions, the council upheld the compulsory retirement of eight judges from the Imo State judiciary after rejecting their appeals over age falsification findings. It said the judges failed to present fresh evidence to overturn the sanctions imposed at its 109th meeting.

However, the NJC reinstated Justice T. I. Nze after reviewing new evidence it described as authentic.

The council also suspended Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau and Justice Edward A. E. Okpe for one year without pay over separate findings of judicial misconduct, including breach of due process and denial of fair hearing.