NJC Suspends 3 Judges for Misconduct, Bars 2 From Promotion

The National Judicial Council imposes one-year suspensions without pay over unlawful detention, improper handling of court judgments and breaches of due process, while recommending 28 candidates for judicial appointments

The National Judicial Council (NJC), chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay over various acts of misconduct at its 112th meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

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The disciplinary action affects 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.

The council also barred two of the suspended officers from nomination for elevation for three years and approved warning letters and cautions for other judicial officers over alleged breaches of professional conduct and established court procedures.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the NJC outlined the findings of its investigation committees, which examined complaints concerning the handling of court proceedings and the exercise of judicial powers.

The cases involved unlawful detention of litigants, reopening of concluded judgments, issuance of bench warrants and imposition of financial penalties without following the prescribed contempt procedures.

Justice Kabir was suspended for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of court orders without initiating the mandatory contempt proceedings.

According to the council, its investigation committee found that she ordered the litigant’s detention without issuing and serving Forms 48 and 49, which are required to notify an alleged contemnor of the consequences of disobeying a court order.

The committee also established that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be dealt with through summary proceedings.

“The committee also found that the action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing,” the NJC stated.

Consequently, the council approved her suspension for one year without pay and barred her from nomination for elevation for three years.

Grand Kadi Salihu was similarly suspended for one year without pay over his involvement in reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.

The NJC said the investigation found that he exceeded his judicial authority by constituting a committee to review the earlier judgment and subsequently assigning the matter to a Higher Sharia Court judge.

The judge reportedly received fresh evidence and delivered another judgment, effectively reopening a matter that had already been decided by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“The committee held that the process amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, which was subsequently set aside by the Jigawa State High Court,” the council stated.

The NJC said the action breached Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016.

During Salihu’s suspension, the most senior Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal is expected to perform the functions of the office of the Grand Kadi.

The third suspended officer, Justice Biambo, was sanctioned over his handling of a civil dispute involving the issuance of bench warrants and the imposition of fines without due process.

The council found that he ordered the arrest of petitioners for allegedly disobeying an interim injunction and subsequently imposed fines of ₦300,000 on each of them without instituting proper contempt proceedings or serving Forms 48 and 49.

It said the investigation committee concluded that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and should not have been summarily tried and punished.

Like Justice Kabir, Biambo was suspended for one year without pay and barred from nomination for elevation for three years.

The NJC also took disciplinary action against other judicial officers following investigations into separate complaints.

Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court received a warning letter and was placed on the council’s Watch List over his handling of proceedings involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The investigation committee found that Kawu granted Malami interim bail on December 23, 2025, despite knowing that another judge of the same court had issued a subsisting remand order due to expire at midnight on December 24.

The council considered the decision inconsistent with the existing judicial order and directed that a formal warning be issued.

Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court also received warning letters over their failure to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90 days.

The NJC rejected their argument that the constitutional provision did not apply to appellate courts, noting that both judges had admitted delivering judgment outside the stipulated period without providing satisfactory explanations.

The council said their conduct breached Section 294 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and advised them to exercise greater diligence in managing cases.

Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court was cautioned for entertaining an application and issuing orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.

The NJC said the conduct amounted to disregard for the appellate court and bordered on insubordination.

Similarly, Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was cautioned for allegedly denying a litigant fair hearing and disregarding due process by continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for a stay of proceedings.

Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court was also cautioned and placed on the council’s Watch List after granting an ex parte garnishee order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, despite the company not being a party to the substantive suit.

According to the NJC, the order caused the company substantial financial losses.

NJC recommends 28 candidates for judicial appointments

Beyond the disciplinary decisions, the council recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across five states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The recommendations include 24 candidates for appointment as High Court judges in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun states.

One candidate was recommended for appointment as Grand Kadi of the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, while another was recommended as Kadi of the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.

Two additional candidates were recommended for appointment as judges of the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.

The council said the recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.

In another significant decision, the NJC directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in its shortlist of candidates for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.

The directive followed a petition by Bob Kay Njemanze, who challenged Agugua’s exclusion from the shortlist submitted by the commission.

The council acknowledged the constitutional responsibility of the State Judicial Service Commission to advise it on suitable candidates but maintained that the NJC retained the authority to determine the suitability of nominees presented for judicial appointments.

It consequently directed its secretariat to formally request the commission to include Agugua’s name in the shortlist.

The decisions reflect the council’s dual responsibilities of overseeing judicial discipline and strengthening the administration of justice through appointments and institutional oversight.

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The latest sanctions also reinforce the importance of fair hearing, respect for judicial hierarchy and compliance with established legal procedures in the administration of justice.