The National Judicial Council (NJC) has refuted claims circulating on social media that it received a nomination list for Supreme Court vacancies from the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC). Reports had surfaced suggesting that the FJSC submitted a list of 22 names for NJC’s consideration to fill vacancies at the apex court bench.
The alleged nominations were said to be a response to concerns raised in September about the Supreme Court operating with only 10 justices, a significant shortfall from its constitutional strength of 21.
Director of Information for the NJC, Soji Oye, clarified the situation on Sunday, asserting that he has never engaged in discussions with anyone regarding a list of nominees for justices from the FJSC. Oye labeled the reports circulating on social media as the deliberate handiwork of mischief-makers. He emphasized that official statements from the council, released through his office, are the only credible sources for information on such matters.
In his statement, Oye cautioned against the dissemination of unverified reports on social media concerning nominations to the apex court and the overall process of filling vacancies on the bench. He urged the media, especially operators on social media platforms, to verify information from the appropriate sources to prevent the spread of misinformation among the public.