*Suspends three (3) judges for a year without pay,
*Council directs Imo Judicial Service Commission to include Acting Chief Judge in list of candidates for interview
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The National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the suspension of three judicial officers for one year without pay over findings of misconduct, recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments and directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, among candidates being considered for appointment as substantive Chief Judge of the state.
The decisions were reached at the Council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, by the NJC Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the Council disclosed that the suspended officers 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 suspended for one year without pay and barred from nomination for elevation for three years over the unlawful detention of a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings.
According to the NJC, an investigation committee established that the judge ordered the litigant’s arrest and detention for alleged disobedience of court orders without the issuance and service of the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or the commencement of proper contempt proceedings.
The committee held that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be summarily tried and punished. It also found that the judge’s action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing.
The Council similarly suspended Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu for one year without pay over his involvement in reopening a judgment delivered by the Federal Capital Territory Upper Area Court.
The NJC found that the Grand Kadi exceeded his authority by constituting a committee to review the judgment and subsequently assigning the matter to a Higher Sharia Court judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered another judgment.
The Council held that the process amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The resulting judgment was subsequently set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.
The NJC also found that the Grand Kadi’s conduct violated Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016.
Consequently, the Council directed the most senior Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal to perform the functions of the Grand Kadi during the suspension.
Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court was equally suspended for one year without pay and barred from elevation for three years over the issuance of bench warrants and imposition of fines on litigants in a civil dispute without due process.
The investigation committee found that Justice Biambo ordered the arrest of petitioners for allegedly disobeying an interim injunction and subsequently imposed fines of ₦300,000 on each of them without instituting contempt proceedings or serving Forms 48 and 49.
The Council held that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and ought not to have been summarily tried and punished.
In another development, the NJC directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the most senior judge of the State High Court and Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in the shortlist for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.
The directive followed consideration of a petition dated June 11, 2026, submitted by Bob Kay Njemanze, challenging Justice Agugua’s exclusion from the shortlist forwarded by the State Judicial Service Commission.
The Council observed that although the State Judicial Service Commission has the constitutional responsibility to advise the NJC on suitable candidates for appointment as Chief Judge, the NJC retains the authority to determine the suitability of persons presented to it.
It consequently directed its Secretariat to formally request the inclusion of Justice Agugua in the shortlist.
On judicial appointments, the Council recommended 28 candidates, comprising 24 High Court judges, one Grand Kadi, one Kadi and two judges of the Customary Court of Appeal.
For the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, Hon. Kadi Tijjani Jibrin Zololo was recommended for appointment as Grand Kadi.
The four candidates recommended for the Kano State High Court are Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
For the Ebonyi State High Court, the Council recommended Amaga Dickson Edmund.
The seven candidates recommended for the Edo State High Court are Benson Osagie Osawaru, Taiye Osayanmon Omoruyi, Dorothy Ibhade Adamaigbo, Festus Osagie Usiobaifo, Pius Idemudia Oiwoh, Majebi Samuel Amune and Emike Jessica Imuekemhe.
For the Adamawa State High Court, the Council recommended Aminu Sa’ad, Ibrahim Ulenda Musa, Sadiq Giwa, Musa Bala Mijinyawa, Japhet Ibrahim, Aliyu Bakari and Yakubu Ahmadu.
The five candidates recommended for the Ogun State High Court are Olakulehin Luqman Abiola Oke, Adebimpe Folusho Obienu, Fatimat Adeola Daudu, Rafiat Bolanle Kadiri and Oludotun Olaniyi Osho.
Abubakar Ishaku was recommended for appointment as Kadi of the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal, while Elshama Gwama Dimas and David Benjamin Pembi were recommended as judges of the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
The Council stated that all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
On other disciplinary matters, the NJC disclosed that it considered nine investigation reports concerning petitions against judicial officers over their handling of cases.
Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a suit involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The investigation committee found that he improperly entertained and granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi on October 22, 2025, after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out.
The committee observed that the judge took the action while other pending applications, including the bank’s application for a stay of execution, had been adjourned to November 4, 2025, thereby creating room for justifiable suspicion.
The Council also found merit in a petition against Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court over his decision to grant interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, despite a subsisting remand order issued by another judge of the same court.
According to the NJC, Justice Kawu was aware that the earlier remand order would expire at midnight on December 24, 2025, but granted interim bail on December 23, 2025, in conflict with that order.
The Council consequently directed that he be issued a warning letter and placed on its Watch List.
Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court were also issued warning letters for failing to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90 days.
The Council rejected their argument that the constitutional provision did not apply to appellate courts, noting that they admitted delivering judgment outside the stipulated period without a satisfactory explanation.
The NJC held that the delay breached Section 294 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and advised the judges to exercise greater diligence in case management.
Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court was cautioned and placed on the Council’s Watch List for entertaining an application and making orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.
The committee described the conduct as a disregard for the appellate court that bordered on insubordination.
Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was cautioned after the Council found that he continued proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for a stay of proceedings.
The NJC held that his conduct demonstrated disregard for due process, fair hearing and the hierarchy of courts.
Justice Chibuike L. Azuama of the Imo State High Court was also cautioned and placed on the Watch List after the Council found that he granted an ex parte garnishee order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, which was not a party to the substantive suit, causing the company substantial losses.
The Council disclosed that it considered reports on 35 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees, dismissed 24 for lack of merit, recommended four for further investigation and placed one in abeyance because it was sub judice.
It also approved caution or warning measures against six judicial officers, including placement on its Watch List for six months.
Two petitions against Justice B. M. Balarabe of the Kaduna State High Court and Justice Evelyn N. Anyadike were dismissed following their withdrawal.
A petition against Justice Peter O. Ikujuni of the Ondo State High Court was struck out because it had been leaked or published on social media in violation of the National Judicial Policy, 2016.
The petition against Justice Abdullahi Mika’ilu of the Niger State High Court was dismissed for want of diligent prosecution.
The NJC further resolved that investigation should continue into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court despite the petitioner’s notice of withdrawal.
On retirement matters, the Council approved the retirement notifications of six judicial officers, including Supreme Court Justices Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, who retired on September 29, 2026, and Uwani Musa Abba Aji, whose retirement is due on November 7, 2026.
Others are Justice O. F. Omoleye of the Court of Appeal, who retired on October 6, 2026; Justice Ogechi Okehielem of the Abia State High Court, who voluntarily retired on September 15, 2026; Justice Theresa Isidore Obot of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, due to retire voluntarily on December 30, 2026; and Justice Munir Muhammad Ladan of the Kaduna State High Court, due to retire voluntarily on December 31, 2026.
The Council expressed appreciation to the retiring judicial officers for their service to the judiciary and the nation.
It also announced the deaths of nine judicial officers between May 1 and September 26, 2026.
They are Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Kano Division; Justice Sambo Sammy Daka of the Kaduna State High Court; Justice Josephine Efunkumbi Oyefeso of the Lagos State High Court; Justice Musa Mohammed Dallah of the Nasarawa State High Court; Justice Bello Muhammed Shinkafi of the Zamfara State High Court; Justice Edem Nyong Okokon of the Cross River State High Court; Kadi Aliyu Mani Yauri of the Kebbi State Sharia Court of Appeal; Justice Dorothy Sim Inwulale of the Kaduna State Customary Court of Appeal; and Justice Legor Torbira Senewo of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal.
The NJC extended its condolences to the families of the deceased judicial officers, the judiciary and the Nigerian legal community.
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