The National Judicial Commission (NJC), has given approval for the appointment of four new High Court Judges and Six Khadis in the service of Niger State Judiciary.
The appointment of the senior judicial officers was sequel to the request made by the Chief Judge of Niger State,Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik through the governor Mohammed Umar Bago.
Justice Halima Abdulmalik, had some times during the 2024/2025 legal year appealed to the governor to give the approval for the appointment of more High Court Judges into the service of the state Judiciary.
She told the governor at the event,that shortage of Judges in the High court division of the state Judiciary has affected the speedy dispensation of criminal and civil justice in the state hence the request for the approval for the appointment of more judges.
Findings revealed that thirteen numbers of existing High courts in Niger State are inadequate as three other High courts in Lapai,Kuta, Kutigi, and Rijau are been overseeing without substantive presiding Judges.
At the 110 council meeting of the National Judicial Council,held on Tuesday,13th January 2026,the Chief Justice of Nigeria,Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun gave the approval of 35 Judicial officers with the elevation a Justice of Benin division of Court of appeal Justice Steven Oyewole to the Apex Court.
Also,the CJN gave the approval for the appointment of High Court Judges in Benue,Niger,Plateau, Taraba, and Osun States.
The appointment of the four High Court Judges in Niger State bringing the numbers of High court Judges in Niger to a total of seventeen which are inadequate
Eight applicants were shortlisted for the appointment,however for were appointed while the remaining for were said to be on reserved list.
Among the appointed High Court Judges in Niger State,are Mallam Adamu Abubakar,whose until his appointment was a director in the service of the Niger State Judiciary and also one time Chief Magistrate in the Service of the state Judiciary, Ahmed Jibrin Ndajiwo,a Chief Magistrate in the FCT Judiciary, Sa’adat Gambo a director Multi-door court division of the state Judiciary and Suleiman Buhari Wushishi a principal state counsel in the office of the Attorney General of Niger State.
Those on reserved list,include Hajiya Hauwa Kulu Isah,the Secretary of the Niger State Judicial Service Commission (NSJC), Mallam Murtala Bala Ibrahim,a sitting Chief Magistrate at the Niger State Judiciary headquarters,Barrister Isah Evuti a Chief Principal State counsel in the office of the Attorney General of Niger State and Barrister Abdullahi Babani of the Customary Court headquarters in Abuja.
The newly appointed high court Judges were subjected to vigorous screenings before their appointment even as the CJN requested for petitions from the public to attest to the integrity and otherwise of the applicants.
