The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and sanctioned eight others over alleged misconduct and breaches of judicial procedures.
The decisions were taken 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 three judges suspended 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 proceedings or serving the mandatory legal forms.
The council held that her actions violated the litigant’s right to a fair hearing. In addition to her one-year suspension without pay, she was barred from consideration for promotion for three years.
Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended for exceeding his judicial authority by reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court. The council found that he constituted a committee to review the judgment before the matter was reassigned to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered a new judgment.
Justice Biambo was sanctioned for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing fines of ₦300,000 on each in connection with a civil dispute without following the prescribed contempt procedures.
He was also suspended for one year without pay and barred from consideration for elevation for three years.
Judges cautioned and warned
Among the other judicial officers sanctioned was Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, who was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a case involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The council also approved a warning letter for Justice Bello Kawu 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 of the Nasarawa State High Court were also issued warning letters for delivering a judgment in an appeal outside the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.
Other judicial officers facing disciplinary action include Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court and Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court.
Their cases involved issues including making orders despite pending appeals, continuing proceedings without due regard to court procedures and freezing the bank accounts of a company that was not a party to the substantive suit.
NJC reviews 35 petitions
The council also reviewed 35 petitions submitted by its preliminary complaints assessment committees.
Of the petitions considered, 24 were dismissed for lack of merit, four were recommended for further investigation, while one was placed on hold because the matter was before a court.
The NJC further directed that an investigation into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court should continue despite the petitioner’s withdrawal of the complaint.
In a separate development, the council recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across several states, including Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa, Ogun and Plateau.
The disciplinary actions underscore the council’s responsibility to enforce judicial standards, promote accountability and ensure that judicial officers comply with established legal procedures.
