NEWS
NJC Suspends Three Judges Without Pay Over Misconduct, Cautions Eight Others
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and issued formal cautions to eight others over various acts of judicial misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial powers, violation of due process and disregard for established legal procedures.
The disciplinary decisions were reached during the Council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The three judicial officers handed one-year suspensions 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.
In addition to their suspensions without salaries, the three judges have been barred from consideration for elevation to higher judicial positions for three years.
Justice Kabir was sanctioned for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience to a court order without complying with the legally prescribed contempt proceedings.
The Council established that the judge failed to serve the litigant the mandatory Forms 48 and 49, which are required before a court can proceed with committal proceedings for contempt.
The NJC consequently held that her action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing and constituted an abuse of judicial authority.
Similarly, Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended for exceeding his judicial jurisdiction by reopening a judgment previously delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.
The Council found that he constituted a committee to review the existing judgment and subsequently transferred the matter to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered another judgment.
The NJC considered the process unlawful, maintaining that it amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Justice Biambo also faced disciplinary action for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing fines of ₦300,000 on each of them in connection with a civil dispute without following the required contempt procedures.
Beyond the three suspensions, the Council issued warnings to other judicial officers over conduct considered inconsistent with judicial ethics and established legal principles.
Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The NJC found that he 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.
The Council also observed that other applications, including a request for a stay of execution, were still pending before the court when the judge granted the fresh order.
In another disciplinary decision, Justice Bello Kawu received a warning over his decision to grant 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 equally issued warning letters for delivering judgments in an appeal outside the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.
Other judicial officers cautioned or placed on the Council’s Watch List include Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, who allegedly made judicial orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.
Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was also cautioned for continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for a stay of execution.
Similarly, Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court was cautioned for granting an ex parte garnishee order freezing the accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit.
The Council also reviewed 35 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees as part of its broader efforts to strengthen accountability and maintain discipline within the judiciary.
Of the petitions considered, 24 were dismissed for lacking merit, four were recommended for further investigation, while one was placed on hold because the subject matter was already before a court.
The NJC further directed that investigations into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court should continue despite the petitioner’s decision to withdraw the complaint.
Meanwhile, amid its disciplinary actions, the Council also approved recommendations for the appointment of 28 judicial officers across different states of the federation.
The recommendations include 24 candidates for appointment as judges of the High Courts of Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun States.
Other recommendations cover the appointment of 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 include the name of the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, on the shortlist for appointment as substantive Chief Judge following a petition challenging her exclusion from the selection process.
In a separate development, the NJC approved the retirement notifications of six judicial officers, including two Justices of the Supreme Court.
The Council also expressed condolences over the deaths of nine judicial officers recorded between May and September 2026.
The latest decisions underscore the NJC’s constitutional responsibility to oversee judicial discipline, uphold professional standards and promote public confidence in the administration of justice.
With three judicial officers suspended, several others cautioned and fresh judicial appointments recommended, the Council’s 112th meeting has emerged as a significant intervention in strengthening accountability and protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system.