Supreme Court of Nigeria

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in Nigeria, and is located in the Central District, Abuja, in what is known as the Three Arms Zone, so called due to the proximity of the offices of the Presidential Complex, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court.

Overview

In 1963, the Federal Republic of Nigeria was proclaimed and Nnamdi Azikiwe became its first President. Appeals from the Federal Supreme Court to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council were abolished at that point, and the Supreme Court became the highest court in Nigeria. In 1976, the Court of Appeal (originally known as the Federal Court of Appeal) was established as a national court to entertain appeals from the High Courts of each of Nigeria's 36 states, which are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. The Supreme Court in its current form was shaped by the Supreme Court Act of 1990 and by Chapter VII of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

Under the 1999 constitution, the Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdictions, has the sole authority and jurisdiction to entertain appeals from Court of Appeal, having appellate jurisdiction over all lower federal courts and highest state courts. Decisions rendered by the court are binding on all courts in Nigeria except the Supreme Court itself.

Structure and organization

The Supreme Court is composed of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and such number of justice not more than 21, appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation by the Senate. Justices of the Supreme Court must be qualified to practice law in Nigeria, and must have been so qualified for a period not less than fifteen years. Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria have a mandatory retirement age of 70 years.[1]

Office Name Term
Chief Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar[2]2012–incumbent
Associate Justice Sylvester Umaru Onu1993–incumbent
Associate Justice F. F. Tabai1999–incumbent
Associate Justice G. A. Oguntade2004–incumbent
Associate Justice Sunday A. Akintan2004–incumbent
Associate Justice Mahmud Mohammed2005–incumbent
Associate Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen2005–incumbent
Associate Justice Ikechi Francis Ogbuagu2005–incumbent
Associate Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad2007–incumbent
Associate Justice Pius Olayiwola Aderemi2007–incumbent
Associate Justice Christopher Michael Chukwuma-Eneh2007–incumbent
Associate Justice Mary Odili2011–incumbent

References

  1. ↑ Ihuoma Chiedozie (July 12, 2012). "Here comes Muktar, the ‘no nonsense’ Justice". The Punch (Ajibola Ogunsola). Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  2. ↑ "ALOMA MUKHTAR: Making of Nigeria’s Female CJN". P.M. News (Independent Communications Network Limited). July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2012.

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