The apex court, now with its full complement of 21 Justices, no doubt will be poised for efficient and effective justice delivery, as political litigations are expected to surge before and after the 2027 general elections, writes Alex Enumah.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2025, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, swore in Justice Joseph Oyewole as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN), thereby bringing the total number of Justices on the bench of the apex court to its maximum 21. The feat according to the CJN was a significant milestone in the nation’s judiciary as it marks the second time within a short period that the apex court would be having the full or maximum number of Justices on its bench.
The first was in February 2024, when 11 justices recommended to President Bola Tinubu for appointment were sworn in as Justice(s) of the Supreme Court (JSC). Before the coming of the Tinubu administration, the bench could barely boast of 10 justices, including the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. The situation then which was a far cry from the constitutional provision, created a heavy burden on justices of the apex court, and the justice system, since the apex court was the final court in the country. Delay in justice delivery as well as backlog of cases was the order of the day, as the 10 justices could barely form two separate panels to hear pending appeals in ordinary matters and just one in a constitutional matter.
