The National Judicial Council (NJC) has denied social media reports that it received a nomination list for Supreme Court vacancies from the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
Last week, reports emerged that the FJSC released 22 names for NJC’s consideration to fill vacancies at the apex court bench.
The move appeared to be in response to complaints in September that the Supreme Court was operating with only 10 out of its constitutional strength of 21 justices.
Based on the depletion in the number of justices due to retirements and deaths, it was reported that the FJSC subsequently submitted a shortlist to address the vacant positions.
In its reaction on Sunday, Director of Information of NJC, Soji Oye, said he has never had any discussion with anybody regarding the list of justices’ nominees from the FJSC.
He described the social media reports on the matter as deliberate handiwork of mischief-makers, insisting that reports on such matters are always by an official statement from the council through his office.
While warning against unverified reports circulating on social media regarding the apex court nominations and the process being followed to fill vacancies on the bench, Oye stated that the media, especially social media operators, should always get their information from the rightful source so as not to mis-inform the public.
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