Supreme Court to drop to 19 justices as NJC records 15 judicial deaths and retirements

Nigeria's Supreme Court will be down to 19 justices from Saturday, two short of its full complement of 21.

Justice Ibrahim Saulawa retired on 29 September, and Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji is due to retire on 7 November. The National Judicial Council (NJC) took note of their departures at its meeting on 3 November, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

In all, the council recorded the retirement of six judges and the deaths of nine others across the country's courts. Those who died between May and September served on the Federal High Court in Kano and on state high courts and appeal courts in Kaduna, Lagos, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Cross River, Kebbi and Rivers.

Other retirements include Justice O. F. Omoleye of the Court of Appeal and judges of the Abia, Akwa Ibom and Kaduna high courts.

The shrinking bench comes as the Supreme Court prepares for a busy period of election-related cases, including the dispute over the ADC's leadership and Atiku Abubakar's candidacy.