The National Judicial Council (NJC), at its 111th Meeting held on Tuesday, May 13, 2026, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, has recommended the appointment of twelve new Justices of the Court of Appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adopted a landmark policy affirming the eligibility of retired public servants for judicial appointment, and taken sweeping disciplinary actions including the suspension of two judges for one year without pay and the rejection of appeals by eight compulsorily retired judges from Imo State.
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The Council also commended nine judges for exemplary performance, issued queries to 256 judicial officers for various performance-related issues, dismissed 73 petitions for lacking in merit, and extended the acting appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State.
12 New Court of Appeal Justices
The NJC recommended the following twelve candidates for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal:
Hon. Justice Yakubu Abdulhammeed Mohammed; Hon. Justice Abodunde Monisola Oluwatoyin; Hon. Justice Ajuwa Raphael; Hon. Justice Abua Elias Ojie; Hon. Justice Ijohor Mbalamen Jennifer; Hon. Justice Shuaibu Sabiu Bala; Hon. Justice Omotosho James Kolawole; Hon. Justice Nwite Emeka; Hon. Justice Buba Dauda Njane; Hon. Justice Kado Sanusi; Hon. Justice Ademola Enikuomehin; and Hon. Justice Dadom Julcit Veronica.
The Council also recommended Christine T. Clement Ende for appointment as Judge of the High Court of Benue State, and Ibrahim Abdullahi Yakubu and Bala Salisu Daura for appointment as Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State.
The recommendations are intended to fill vacancies arising from the elevation and retirement of judicial officers across various levels of the judiciary and to strengthen the capacity of courts for effective justice delivery.
The NJC stated that all recommendations followed a rigorous selection process involving public scrutiny, evaluation of complaints received from stakeholders, and interviews conducted by a nine-member Interview Committee, in accordance with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.
Landmark Policy on Retired Public Servants
In a significant policy pronouncement, the NJC reaffirmed that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) does not prohibit retired public servants from judicial appointment. The decision was further guided by judicial precedent, particularly the Court of Appeal decision in Ayoola v. Baruwa (1999), which affirmed that no constitutional provision precludes a retired legal practitioner from appointment to the Bench.
The policy was adopted in the context of the consideration of Ibrahim Abdullahi Yakubu and Bala Salisu Daura, whose candidacies for the Katsina Sharia Court of Appeal had been stepped down in January 2026 following a petition by Tanimu Yusuf dated November 20, 2025, questioning their eligibility on account of prior retirement from public service. After due examination of the issues raised, the Council concluded its deliberations and approved their recommendation.
Under the newly adopted policy, a retired public servant seeking judicial appointment must meet the following conditions: they must have a minimum of ten years remaining in service before attaining the mandatory judicial retirement age; they must disclose any criminal conviction; they must provide full employment history and reasons for leaving previous employment; they must declare existing employment obligations; and they must disclose their financial status, including any circumstance of financial embarrassment.
The Council noted that public service retirement may occur through voluntary retirement, compulsory retirement, or advised resignation, and observed that some officers retire upon attaining 50 years of age after completing 35 years of service.
The requirement of a minimum remaining service period was introduced to ensure optimal institutional investment in judicial training and to promote continuity, stability, and efficiency within the judiciary.
Imo State Judicial Crisis
The Council extended the acting appointment of Hon. Justice Ijeoma O. Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State for a further period of three months with effect from March 26, 2026 to June 26, 2026, to allow for completion of the process for appointing a substantive Chief Judge.
The NJC commended Hon. Justice Ononeze-Madu for declining to be sworn in contrary to established constitutional procedure, describing the action as a demonstration of institutional integrity and respect for the rule of law.
The Council reiterated its call on the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to expedite the process of appointing a substantive Chief Judge to ensure stability, safeguard judicial independence, and enhance the effective administration of justice in the state.
Eight Compulsorily Retired Imo Judges Lose Appeals
On disciplinary matters, the Council rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary seeking a reversal of their compulsory retirement from service over age falsification. The Council found that the affected judges failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.
The judges whose appeals were rejected are: Hon. Justice B.C. Iheka; Hon. Justice K.A. Leaweanya; Hon. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi; Hon. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi; Hon. Justice Ofoha Uchenna; Hon. Justice Everyman Eleanya; Hon. Justice Rosemond Ibe; and Hon. Justice T.N. Nzeukwu.
The affected judges were among ten judicial officers recommended for compulsory retirement at the Council’s 109th Meeting held on June 25, 2025. Nine of them were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to unlawfully extend their years in service, while Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as Acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in the hierarchy of judges, contrary to Section 271(4) of the Constitution.
However, the Council reinstated Hon. Justice T.I. Nze of the Customary Court of Appeal after His Lordship presented new evidence to the review committee which the committee found to be authentic.
Two Judges Suspended for One Year Without Pay
The Council suspended Hon. Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State for one year without pay for judicial misconduct involving the grant of an ex parte order in breach of Rules 3.1, 3.3 and 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.
The suspension followed a petition by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma over proceedings in Suit No. NSD/MG56M/2025. The petitioner alleged that Justice Shekarau granted an ex parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from her bank account to a third party as a purported reversal of funds. She contended that the ex parte application was filed, heard, and granted on the same day without any substantive suit pending before the court, and that the order wrongly implied her involvement in fraud despite her not being charged or made a party to the proceedings. She further alleged that the judge failed to verify the alleged erroneous transfer before making the order. The NJC’s investigation committee found that the judge acted in bad faith, failed to observe due process, and demonstrated lack of professional competence.
Similarly, the Council suspended Hon. Justice Edward A.E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for one year without pay over allegations of breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case. The decision followed a petition filed by Mr Sunday Emmanuel Oso, who accused the judge of bias and denial of fair hearing in Suit No. FCT/HC/PET/529/2024 between Lateefat Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso.
Oso alleged that although he was served hearing notices fixing the matter for September 19, 2024, the court heard and granted an ex parte application on September 17, 2024 without notice to him. He further alleged that when the matter later came up, the judge declined to hear his Motion on Notice and instead entertained committal proceedings against him based on alleged disobedience of the earlier ex parte order. The committee found that Justice Okpe granted an ex parte application that led to committal proceedings against the petitioner without affording him the opportunity to be heard, contrary to Rule 3.3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
Petition Against Rivers Judge Dismissed, Petitioner Referred to LPDC
The Council dismissed a petition filed against Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali of the Rivers State High Court over allegations of misconduct linked to the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis. The NJC found that the allegations were unsubstantiated and recommended that the petitioner, Daniel Chibuzor Amadi, Esq., be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for disciplinary action over allegations described as reckless and unsupported by evidence.
73 Petitions Dismissed, Referrals for Prosecution and Discipline
The Council considered 13 investigation reports on petitions filed against judicial officers across the country. Eight petitions were dismissed for lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution, or for being time-barred, while sanctions were imposed in two cases where misconduct was established.
The NJC also deliberated on reports covering 98 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. Of these, 68 were dismissed for lack of merit, four judges were cautioned, one judge received a final warning, and 11 petitions were recommended for further investigation. The Council further adopted reports suspending proceedings in some petitions on the grounds that the matters were sub judice.
The Council resolved to refer one Mbadiwe Ossai to the Inspector-General of Police for investigation and prosecution for alleged perjury.
Additionally, the following lawyers were referred to the LPDC for writing frivolous and unsubstantiated petitions calculated to harass and intimidate judicial officers: Adeboye Williams Adewale, Esq.; Dr Peter N. Ekemezie, Esq.; Dr Martin Odika, Esq.; and Muhammad Hamza Ahmad-Gana, Esq.
In a related development, one Yusuf Isa, described as a serial petitioner, was barred from further presenting petitions to the Council.
Nine Judges Commended, 256 Queried
On judicial performance evaluation, the NJC commended nine judges for exemplary performance during the 2024 and 2025 legal years. Two judges are to receive letters of commendation for delivering more than 21 considered judgments within the review period, while seven others will receive appreciation letters for commendable performance.
The Council also approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers for various performance-related issues.
Retirements
The Council approved the retirement of the following judicial officers: Hon. Justice Hamma Akawu Barka of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, who retired on April 17, 2026; Hon. Justice Amina Audi Wambai of the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, who will retire on July 6, 2026; and Hon. Justice Bello Mohammed Shinkafi of the High Court of Zamfara State, who will retire voluntarily on July 31, 2026.
The NJC expressed profound appreciation for their dedicated and meritorious service to the judiciary and the nation.
NJC Press Release of 14 May 2026Deaths
The Council noted with regret the deaths of three judicial officers between December 12, 2025 and April 1, 2026: Hon. Justice Godswill Vidal Obomanu of the High Court of Rivers State; Hon. Justice Bamidele Folarinle Adeyeye of the High Court of Ondo State; and Hon. Justice Yahaya Adamu of the High Court of Kogi State.
The National Judicial Council extended its heartfelt condolences to their families, the judiciary, and the entire Nigerian legal community, and prayed for the peaceful repose of their souls.
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