Buhari confirms nominees as members of Judicial Service Commission

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nominations of Nnamonso Ekanem and Mahmoud Abubakar Magaji as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

The nominees who are from Akwa-Ibom and Niger are to represent the South-South zone and North-Central zone on the Commission, respectively.

The confirmation of both nominees followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, with Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele as chairman.

Bamidele, in his presentation, said their nominations were made by President Muhammadu Buhari pursuant to Section 154, subsections (1) and (3) in conformity with Paragraph 12 (e) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution.

According to the lawmaker, the nominees “are fit and proper persons for appointment as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission”.

He disclosed that there was no petition or adverse report against the nominees, adding that “record checks and other forms of investigations by security agencies did not reveal any negative trace against them.”

Bamidele expressed satisfaction with the qualifications, experience, competence and integrity of the nominees as members of the commission.

In a related development, the Senate has forwarded Buhari’s request for the confirmation of four nominees as Commissioners for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the Committee on Power.

The nominees who are to appear before the panel for screening include Dr Yusuf Ali (North Central), Mr Chidi Ike (South East), Mr Nathan Shatti (North East) and Mr Dafe Akpeneye (South South).

The Committee was given two weeks by Senate President Ahmad Lawan to report back to the chamber in plenary.