Nigeria, Nov. 5 -- The National Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected the exclusion of acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Ijeoma Agugua, from the list of nominees submitted by the state's judicial service commission for appointment as the state's substantive chief judge.

The council said in a statement on Wednesday that it ordered the Imo State Judicial Service Commission, the body with statutory authority to initiate the process of appointing judicial officers in the state, to include Ms Agugua on its shortlist.

NJC's Deputy Director (Information) Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe said in a statement on Wednesday that the council gave the directive at its 112th meeting held on 3 November.

During the meeting, the council, chaired by Chief Justice of...