Prominent human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has fiercely criticized the National Judicial Council (NJC) for its handling of judicial misconduct cases involving Justices Jane E. Inyang and Inyang Ekwo. In a series of posts on X, Odinkalu described the NJC’s decision to suspend the judges for only one year without pay as evidence of the Council’s complicity in judicial corruption, arguing that the sanctions are inadequate to address the “deep malaise” afflicting Nigeria’s judiciary.

On April 30, 2025, the NJC, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, announced the suspension of three judges—Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division; Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division; and Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division—for one year without pay. The suspensions, decided at the NJC’s 108th meeting on April 29-30, 2025, followed findings of judicial misconduct.

Justice Inyang was found guilty of breaching Rule 3(5) of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers by issuing inappropriate ex parte orders for the sale of Udeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at the interlocutory stage of a case (Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/46/2023) while presiding at the Federal High Court, Uyo Division, before her elevation to the Court of Appeal in September 2023. She was also barred from elevation for five years.

Justice Ekwo was suspended for delivering a ruling in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021 without hearing the parties, ignoring an application to set aside proceedings conducted in their absence, and dismissing the case, violating Rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the Code of Conduct. He was placed on a five-year watchlist and barred from elevation during that period.

Odinkalu, in his X posts, expressed outrage at the NJC’s leniency, questioning how judges with such “egregious acts of judicial corruption” could remain on the bench. He highlighted several concerns:

  1. Inadequate Sanctions: Odinkalu argued that a one-year suspension without pay is a mere “slap on the wrist” for judges who have shown “manifest impunity” and disregard for judicial comportment. He questioned what it would take for a judge to be permanently removed, suggesting that even serious misconduct seems insufficient.
  2. Flawed Elevation Process: He criticized the elevation of Jane Inyang to the Court of Appeal in September 2023, despite pending complaints about her conduct. Odinkalu linked this to the “last-minute elevations” under former Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired in August 2024, calling it a failure of the NJC’s vetting process. He noted that the five-year bar on Inyang’s elevation still leaves open the possibility of her reaching the Supreme Court, describing it as indicative of a “mess” in the judiciary.
  3. Ekwo’s Predictable Misconduct: Odinkalu described Justice Ekwo as a “predictable” offender, noting that he had been under NJC caution for the past year. He called it a “miracle” that Ekwo remained a judge until his suspension, given his history of delivering rulings without due process.
  4. NJC’s Complicity: Odinkalu accused the NJC of being “deeply complicit in judicial corruption” by issuing lenient sanctions that fail to uphold judicial integrity. He argued that the Council’s actions entrench damage to the judiciary and called for its overhaul, stating, “If it is not willing to root out judicial crookedness, then it should be rooted out.”
  5. Systemic Malaise: He framed the suspensions as evidence of a broader crisis in the Nigerian judiciary, questioning how individuals like Inyang and Ekwo could become judges in the first place. Odinkalu suggested that the NJC’s current structure is part of the problem, undermining public confidence in the judiciary.

The NJC’s actions follow growing concerns about judicial integrity in Nigeria, with the Council dismissing 29 petitions against other judges and empaneling committees to investigate 27 others.

Odinkalu’s critique aligns with his long-standing advocacy for judicial reform, emphasizing the NJC’s role under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution to discipline judicial officers.

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