Justices Sidi Bage and Paul Galinje were on Thursday confirmed by the Nigerian Senate as justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, after President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded their names to the upper legislative chambers.

The justices were subsequently referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and during Plenary on Thursday, chairman of the committee, David Umaru recommended that the candidates be confirmed.

Presenting the report of the committee, Umaru described the Justices as possessing “sound knowledge” of the law, adding that they have contributed immensely to the development of the country’s jurisprudence and enriched the legal system through their judgements and rulings as well as seminar presentation.

He added that the committee was satisfied with the nominees’ competence, experience, suitability, qualifications and integrity, hence the recommendation for the confirmation of their nominations.

Umaru further stated that with the nomination of Bage and Galinje, the make-up of the Supreme Court presently was a fair reflection of the Federal Character principle as provided for in Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He explained that upon the confirmation of the new Judges, each of the six geo-political zones in the country will now have three justices in the Supreme Court except the South-South with two.