The chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, has recommended the elevation of 22 judges to the court of appeal.

Eberechi Wike, wife of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), made the priority list.

In a memorandum signed on April 2, the CJN said 92 names were forwarded by Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court of appeal, to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

Of this number, 22 were approved for onward transmission to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further consideration and appointment as justices of the court of appeal.

The nominees from the north-central include Polycarp Tema Kwahar (Benue), Ruqayat Ayoola (Kogi), Eneche Eleojo (Kogi), Asmara Akanbi Yusuf (Kwara), Abdullahi Muhammad Liman (Nasarawa), and Abdu Dogo (FCT).

Justice Fadahu Umaru, a Borno state indigene, was the sole nominee from the north-east.

Nominees from the north-west region include Ishaq Mohammed Sani (Kaduna), Zainab Bage Abubakar (Kebbi), and Abdulaziz M. Ankara (Zamfara).

Nnamdi Okwy Dimga Victoria (Abia), Toochukwu Nwoye (Anambra), Henry Aja-Onu Njoku (Ebonyi), Donatus Uwaezuoke Okorowo (Enugu), and Ngozika N Okaisabor (Imo) are the nominees from the south-east.

In the south-south region, Ntong Festus Ntong (Akwa-Ibom), Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi (Edo), and Eberechi Suzette Wike (Rivers) made the list.

Those from the south-west region are Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo (Lagos), Abiodun Azeem Akinyemi (Ogun), Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola (Oyo), and Bayo Ademola Taiwo (Oyo).

RESERVE LIST

The FJSC also placed some judges on a reserve list for possible elevation.

Those from the north-central include Dorcas Venenge Agishi (Benue), Folajobi Ajayi (Kogi), Adamu Yahaya (Kogi), Toyin Bolaji Adegoke (Kwara), Rose Godwin Soji (Nasarawa) and Jacob Azi Atsem (Plateau).

Abdulhameed Mohammed Yakubu is the only one from the north-east.

Those on reserve from the north-west are Isa Aliyu (Kaduna), Bello Ladan Raha (Kebi), and Bello Mohammed Shinkati (Zamfara).

South-east includes Ory Zik-Ikeorha (Abia), Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu (Anambra), Uwabunkeonye Onwosi (Ebonyi), Chulkwujekwu Joseph Aneke (Enugu) and Chikere Annie Ononeje-Madu (Imo).

South-south nominees on the reserve list are Augustine Dominic Odokwo (Akwa Ibom), Abua Elias Ojie (Cross River) and Victor Oziegbe Aghabue Oviawe (Edo).

Those from south-west are Ogunjobi O. Olukayode (Lagos), James Kolawole Omotosho (Ogun), Mojeed Oladimeji Ishola (Oyo) and Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi (Oyo).

The NJC is expected to recommend those on the priority list to the president for appointment.

On Tuesday, a Dana Air plane veered off the Lagos airport runway, leading to the diversion of other flights to the international airport.

Confirming the development in a statement, Dana Air said the runway incursion involved one of its aircraft with registration number 5N BKI.

The airline said the aircraft which flew from Abuja to Lagos, had all passengers and crew safe from any casualty.

“We are relieved to confirm that all 83 passengers and crew onboard the flight disembarked safely without injuries or scare as the crew handled the situation with utmost professionalism,” Dana Air said.

“We have also updated the AIB and NCAA on the incident and the aircraft involved has been grounded by our maintenance team for further investigation.

“We wish to thank the airport authorities, our crew for their very swift response in ensuring the safe disembarkation of all passengers following the incident and our sincere apologies and appreciation to the passengers on the affected flight for their patience and understanding.”

The airline also reassured that passengers’ safety will always be the company’s priority, adding that the management is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

X user, BelemaMhart — who boarded another airline — said their plane was diverted just as they were about to land due to the Dana Air incident.

“We were about to land in Lagos and the pilot announced, he had to land at international and Taxi to local airport,” BelemaMhart said.

“On getting here, we learnt Dana Air had issues on landing, that was the reason our pilot was asked to land at the international airport.”

Six months before this incident, the aircraft engine of a Dana Air plane reportedly exploded shortly before take-off from Lagos.

However, in a statement by the company, Dana Air denied the explosion, saying its aircraft only experienced “some operational challenges” leading to “non-scheduled maintenance”.

Also, in July 2022, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended Dana Air for multiple regulatory infractions.

The authority said it suspended the operating licences of the company after “discovering that the airline is no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations”.

Dana Air resumed flight operations five months after the suspension.