Jonathan Nominates Two INEC Commissioners, Names Two S’ Court Justices

PHOTO: NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WELCOMES IVORIAN SPECIAL ENVOY, MRS. DELESSE MODRI M. GENEROSE DURING HER VISIT FOR A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT JONATHAN AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, TODAY, JULY 20, 2010.

ABUJA, July 20, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Jonathan today presented two nominees; Mohammed Ahmed Wali (Sokoto, North West) and Christopher Ehimorga (Nassarawa, North central) as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioners to the Senate. They are to fill the two remaining slots in the commission.

Before now, the Senate had screened and confirmed nine nominees for the same position.

Also, the President forwarded names of two new Supreme Court Justices; S. Galadima (North Central Zone), Justice B. Vivour-Rhodes (South West Zone) for Senate confirmation.

Both Justices are currently Justices of the Court of Appeal. They would replace Justice I.L. Kutigi (North Central Zone) and Justice B.O. Aderemi (South West Zone).

The President in the letter to the Senate informed the upper house that the two new nominees replaces Major General Bagudu Mamman (Zamfara) and Ambassador

Mohammed Anka (Zamfara), who were dropped earlier.

The letter reads in part; " Further to my letter dated June 17, 2010 withdrawing the nomination of two nominees from the positions of National Electoral Commissioners representing North West and North Central Zones, I wish to forward the under listed as suitable replacement for confirmation by the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ambassador Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Wali (Sokoto, North West) Dr. Christopher Ehimorga (Nassarawa, North Central).

"While hoping that the confirmation will receive the usual expeditious consideration and passage by the distinguished Senate.

However, President Jonathan told the Senators that his nomination of the Supreme Court Justices was in conformity with Section 231 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which empowers him to appoint Justices of the Supreme Court based on the recommendations of the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

The letter reads in part; "In conformity with Section 231 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which gives the President powers to appoint a justice of the Supreme Court acting on the recommendations of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) and subject to confirmation by the Senate, I have the honor to forward the under listed names for confirmation as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; Hon. Justice S. Galadima (North Central Zone) (Justice of Court of Appeal), Hon. Justice B. Rhodes Vivor. (South West Zone) (Justice of Court of Appeal).

"These appointments have been necessitated by the recent retirements from the service of Hon. Justice I.L. Kutigi (North Central Zone) and Hon. Justice B.O. Aderemi (South West Zone), " President Jonathan wrote.