*Police Service Commission Report Exposes Alleged Bribery, Extortion Among Nominees; Only 28 of 62 Candidates Survive Public Feedback Vetting
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The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has screened out 34 nominees for the Federal High Court bench following damning public feedback that exposed allegations of bribery, extortion, and gross misconduct against several candidates.
The screening exercise, which began on September 17, 2025, was part of a transparency initiative introduced under the administration of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The policy requires that names of all judicial nominees be published for public comment on their integrity, reputation, and suitability before appointment.
Of the 62 applicants who passed the Computer-Based Test (CBT) examination conducted by the Federal High Court and whose names were forwarded to the FJSC, only 28 have survived the rigorous integrity vetting. The remaining 34 nominees were eliminated based on adverse feedback received from members of the public, with some petitions backed by official investigation reports from the Police Service Commission.
One of the most detailed petitions obtained was submitted against Blessing Nkechi Ezeala, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) from Imo State who served as Officer-in-Charge of Legal, Zone 7 Police Command, Abuja.
In a letter dated September 22, 2025, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission and received on September 23, 2025, the law firm of Douglas, Abbas & Gideon, representing Alhaji Abubakar Yahaya, detailed serious allegations of corruption against the nominee.
The petition, with reference to a public call for comments on nominees’ integrity, stated: “Our clients view of Blessing Nkechi Ezeala who is a Chief Superintendent of Police serving with the Nigerian Police Force, Force headquarters, Abuja, when she was then the officer in charge of Legal, Zone 7 Police command, Abuja, is that of public officer whose integrity is totally ousted by her love for taking bribe as a police officer.”
According to the petition, the petitioner’s client was arrested on January 16, 2025, at his residence without a warrant. “Police men from the Zone 7, Police Command came to the house and arrested our client without any warrant and only stated that there was a petition against our client and that they are here to arrest our client on the instruction of the officer in charge of Legal section, Zone 7, Police Command in person Mrs. Blessing Ezeani.”
The petition alleged that the nominee refused to grant bail to the petitioner’s client until a bribe was paid. “Upon getting to the station our client gave his statement and Blessing Nkechi Ezeala Refused to grant Bail to our client and until a proxy who is friend with Blessing Nkechi Ezeala took the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only as bribe before our client was released to go home on bail.”
The law firm further stated that the alleged misconduct was reported to the Police Service Commission, which constituted a panel of enquiry headed by the Chairman of the Commission.
A copy of the Police Service Commission’s investigation report dated February 3, 2025, with reference number PSC/CHR/IGP/VOL.5/040, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, corroborates the allegations in the petition.
The Commission’s report, titled “Petition/Complaint Against Assistant Inspector General of Police Benneth Igwe and Officer in Charge Legal Department (Mrs. Blessing Ezeani), Nigeria Police Force Zone 7, Command, Abuja for Abuse of Office, Extortion and Gross Misconduct, Contrary to the Rules of Engagement and Conduct for Police Officers,” revealed detailed findings of corrupt practices.
Under its findings section, the Commission confirmed: “Investigation confirmed the issue in 2.2 pertaining the collection of the Sum of Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N700,000.00) from the petitioner under the pretence of giving the policemen who came for enforcement in order not to allow the Policemen to come for further enforcement again.”
The report further stated: “Records revealed that the petitioner transferred the sum from an account domiciled with Globus Bank with account number 2000563385 and the money was sent to an account provided by Shamsudeen Ubandoma into the account No. 307-023-099-7 with holder Mohammed Zubairu Hamza, domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria.”
Most damning was the Commission’s discovery of a direct money trail to the nominee’s personal bank account. The report stated: “Investigation discovered that on the 15th January, 2025, the petitioner was arrested by the officer in-charge of Legal Unit, CSP. Blessing Ezeani, Zone 7 Police Headquarters, Abuja for Criminal Conspiracy, Trespass And Mischief Offences. Eventually, the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) was collected from him for securing his bail.”
The report continued: “Records revealed that Online Banking Transaction receipt of the petitioner’s Fidelity Bank transferred the sum of one million (N1,000,000.00) to one Jane Ugonma Oleka POS with UBA Account No. 206-155-926-4.”
Crucially, the Commission traced the funds directly to the nominee: “Further investigation revealed that the sum of Nine Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand Naira (N995,000.00) out of the One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) was transferred into UBA Account with number 205-579-254-5 which was discovered to belong to Ezeala Blessing Nkechi the CSP in-charge of Legal Unit of Zone 7, Police Headquarters, Abuja.”
The Police Service Commission made several critical observations in its report. Under Section 6.0 (Observations), the Commission noted: “The whole issue centered on land dispute which is a mere civil case (private wrong) which police has nothing to do with apart from advising the parties to go for civil remedies or to continue with the civil matters in the Court of Law.”
The Commission further observed: “The arrest of the petitioner for Conspiracy, Trespass and Mischief is a malicious arrest and criminal charges.” It also noted: “The corrupt practices involving both the Court officials and the Policemen pertaining the bribery of Seven Hundred Thousand (N700,000.00) and One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) respectively and the Policemen are mockery and irony of principles of accountability and transparency in carrying out official duties.”
In its recommendations, the Commission called for immediate action: “The Officers in-charge of Legal Unit and the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations of Zone 7, Nigeria Police Headquarters, Abuja be issued with an Official Query to answer the actions they have carried out wrongly.”
The Commission recommended that “They should also be suspended from office in order to give room for smooth investigation process without interference, in line with Federal Civil Service Rule 100406.” It further recommended that “Their case after investigation should be referred to Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), in line with the disciplinary procedures” and that “the issue of involvement of money should be referred to the above institutions for further actions.”
The petition concluded by urging the FJSC to reject the nominee’s appointment: “The character of Blessing Nkechi Ezeala (the Nominee) clearly is one that can best be described as person who clearly lacks integrity, total failure in terms of measurement of Reputation and above all highly unsuitable to be appointed as a judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.”
A top source within the judicial hierarchy confirmed that the National Judicial Council will meet on January 13 and 14, 2025, to consider issues arising from the screening process. The 28 shortlisted nominees who survived the integrity test will face a Council interview panel days before the meeting.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated: “The Council is determined not to lower the entry point bar no matter who is involved. Transparency and judicial integrity have remained a top priority for the Kekere-Ekun administration.”
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