The National Judicial Council (NJC) has sanctioned nine judicial officers over alleged misconduct, suspending three judges for one year without pay and issuing warnings to six others.
The suspended judges were accused of various violations, including improper detention of litigants, interference with concluded cases and imposing fines without following established legal procedures.
The council also restricted two of the suspended judges from being considered for promotion for three years.
The decisions were reached at the NJC’s 112th meeting on November 3, 2026, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
According to a statement issued by the council, the affected judges 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 found responsible for keeping a litigant in detention for 58 days over alleged disobedience of court orders without following the required contempt procedures.
The NJC said, “The Investigation Committee found that she 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 institution of proper contempt proceedings.”
The council explained that the alleged offence was committed outside the court’s presence, meaning the judge could not lawfully handle it through summary proceedings.
“The committee also found that the action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing,” the statement added.
Following the findings, the council approved her suspension without pay for one year and prohibited her from being considered for promotion for three years.
Grand Kadi Salihu was sanctioned for reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.
The NJC said he exceeded his judicial authority by establishing a committee to review the case and assigning it to another judge, who admitted fresh evidence and issued a new judgment.
“The committee held that the process amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, which was subsequently set aside by the Jigawa State High Court,” the council stated.
The council said the action breached Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016.
It directed the most senior Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal to temporarily oversee the office during Salihu’s suspension.
Justice Biambo’s suspension followed findings that he ordered the arrest of litigants in a civil dispute and imposed fines of N300,000 on each of them without observing the necessary legal procedures.
The NJC said the judge failed to initiate contempt proceedings or serve the required Forms 48 and 49 before issuing the sanctions.
It stated, “The committee held that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and ought not to have been summarily tried and punished.”
NJC cautions six other judges
The council also issued a warning to Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court over his handling of proceedings involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Justice Kawu was found to have granted Malami interim bail while another judge of the same court had an existing remand order against him.
The NJC said the judge knew the earlier order was expected to expire at midnight on December 24, 2025, but granted bail on December 23, 2025.
The council directed that a warning letter be issued to him and that he be placed on its Watch List.
Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court were also warned over delays in delivering judgment in an appeal beyond the constitutionally stipulated 90 days.
The NJC dismissed their argument that the constitutional requirement did not apply to appellate courts.
It stated, “The committee rejected their arguments that the constitutional provision did not apply to appellate courts, noting their admission that judgment was delivered outside the stipulated period without a satisfactory explanation for the delay.”
The council said the judges violated Section 294 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and urged them to improve their case management.
Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court was cautioned for issuing orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.
The NJC said his conduct “amounted to disregard for the appellate court and bordered on insubordination.”
Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was also cautioned for allegedly denying a litigant fair hearing and continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for a stay of proceedings.
Additionally, Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court was cautioned and placed on the council’s watch list after issuing an ex parte garnishee order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not involved in the original case.
The NJC said the order resulted in substantial financial losses for the company.
NJC recommends 28 judicial appointments
In another development, the council recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across five states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The nominees include 24 candidates for High Court positions in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun states.
Others include one nominee for Grand Kadi of the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, one for Kadi of the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and two candidates for the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
The NJC said, “All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.”
The council also directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to add the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, to its shortlist for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.
The directive followed a petition by Bob Kay Njemanze, who challenged her exclusion from the list submitted by the commission.
Although the NJC acknowledged the commission’s constitutional responsibility to recommend suitable candidates, it maintained that it had the final authority to determine their suitability.
It subsequently instructed its secretariat to formally request Agugua’s inclusion in the shortlist.