NJC suspends three judges for one year over misconduct, bars them from promotion

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and issued cautions to eight others over alleged misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial authority, and violations of due process.

The decisions were reached at the Council’s 112th meeting, held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The NJC also approved the issuance of warning letters to three judges following investigations into petitions concerning their conduct of judicial proceedings.

The affected judicial officers suspended for one year are Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court, Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court.

Justice Kabir was sanctioned for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order without following the required contempt procedure. The investigation established that she failed to initiate proper contempt proceedings or serve the litigant with the mandatory Forms 48 and 49. The Council held that her action breached the litigant’s right to a fair hearing and consequently barred her from being considered for elevation for three years.

In the case of Grand Kadi Salihu, the NJC found that he exceeded his judicial authority by reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court. He had constituted a committee to review the judgment before transferring the matter to another judge, who subsequently entertained fresh evidence and delivered another judgment. The Council considered the process an improper attempt to appeal against a subsisting judgment of a court with competent jurisdiction.

Justice Biambo was also suspended for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing fines of N300,000 on each of them in connection with a civil dispute without complying with the prescribed contempt procedures. He equally failed to serve the relevant forms before making the orders. Like Grand Kadi Salihu, he was barred from consideration for elevation for three years.

The Council further issued a caution to Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a case involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

According to the NJC, the judge granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier application on the same matter had been withdrawn and struck out. This was done while other pending applications, including a request for a stay of execution, were yet to be heard.

Among the other disciplinary actions, the Council approved a warning against Justice Bello Kawu for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite an existing remand order issued by another judge.

Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana were also issued warning letters for delivering judgments in an appeal after the expiration of the constitutionally stipulated 90-day period.

Other judicial officers cautioned or placed on the Council’s Watch List included Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, who made orders after being notified that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal.

The NJC also cited Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court for continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for stay of proceedings. Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court was similarly cautioned for issuing an ex parte garnishee order that froze the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit.

The Council also reviewed 29 petitions forwarded by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. Of these, 24 were dismissed for lacking merit, four were recommended for further investigation, while one was suspended from consideration because the matter was sub judice.

It further ordered the continuation of investigations into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court, notwithstanding the petitioner's notice of withdrawal.

Beyond its disciplinary proceedings, the NJC recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across different states of the federation.

The recommendations comprised 24 candidates for appointment as judges of the High Courts in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun States, alongside a Grand Kadi for the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, a Kadi for the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and two judges for the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.

The Council also directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to add the name of the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, to the shortlist for appointment as substantive Chief Judge. The directive followed a petition challenging her exclusion from the selection process.

In addition, the NJC approved the retirement notifications of six judicial officers, including two Justices of the Supreme Court. It also conveyed its condolences over the deaths of nine judicial officers recorded between May and September 2026.

NJC suspends three judges for one year over misconduct, bars them from promotion