The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without salary following findings of misconduct, abuse of judicial authority and violations of established court procedures.
The disciplinary decisions were announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the council’s Deputy Director of Information, Mr Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
The NJC, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also approved warning letters and cautions against other judicial officers following investigations into complaints concerning their handling of different cases.
The council said it examined nine investigation reports arising from petitions against judicial officers and imposed additional restrictions on the promotion prospects of two of the suspended judges.
Three judges suspended for one year
The affected judicial officers are Justice Hannatu Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court, Grand Kadi Mohammed Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court.
All three received one-year suspensions without pay, while their eligibility for elevation was restricted for three years.
Justice Hannatu Kabir: Litigant detained for 58 days
Justice Kabir was sanctioned over the detention of a litigant for 58 days following allegations of disobedience to a court order.
The NJC investigation found that she ordered the individual’s arrest and detention without following the legally prescribed contempt procedure.
According to the council, the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 were neither issued nor served, and proper contempt proceedings were not instituted.
The investigation further established that the alleged disobedience occurred outside the judge’s presence and therefore could not lawfully be handled through summary contempt proceedings.
The council concluded that the action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing, leading to her suspension and a three-year restriction on elevation.
Grand Kadi Mohammed Salihu: Reopening of concluded judgment
Grand Kadi Salihu was disciplined for his involvement in reopening a judgment previously delivered by an FCT Upper Area Court.
The investigation found that he exceeded his judicial authority by setting up a committee to examine the earlier decision and subsequently referring the matter to a Higher Sharia Court judge.
The judge reportedly received fresh evidence and delivered another judgment in the matter.
The NJC considered the procedure an improper attempt to review a decision already delivered by a court with competent jurisdiction. The subsequent judgment was also set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.
The council found that the conduct violated Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016.
Justice Sobere Biambo: Fines imposed without contempt proceedings
Justice Biambo’s suspension followed his handling of a civil dispute in which he issued bench warrants against litigants and imposed financial penalties without observing the required legal procedures.
The NJC said the judge ordered the arrest of petitioners over alleged disobedience of an interim injunction and subsequently fined each of them ₦300,000.
However, the investigation found that no proper contempt proceedings had been instituted and the required Forms 48 and 49 had not been served.
It also established that the alleged contempt occurred outside the judge’s presence and could not be summarily tried and punished.
The council consequently imposed a one-year suspension without pay and barred him from elevation for three years.
NJC cautions FCT judge over First Bank garnishee proceedings
The council also issued a caution to Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The investigation found that he granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi on October 22, 2025, after an earlier application on the same matter had been withdrawn and struck out.
This happened while other pending applications, including the bank’s request for a stay of execution, had been adjourned until November 4, 2025.
The NJC said the decision created circumstances capable of generating justifiable suspicion.
Two separate petitions against Justice B. M. Balarabe of the Kaduna State High Court and Justice Evelyn N. Anyadike were dismissed after the petitioners withdrew them.
Another complaint against Justice Peter O. Ikujuni of the Ondo State High Court was struck out because it had been leaked and circulated on social media in violation of the National Judicial Policy, 2016.
A petition against Justice Abdullahi Mika’ilu of the Niger State High Court was also dismissed for lack of diligent prosecution.
However, the council directed that investigations should continue into a complaint against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court despite the petitioner’s decision to withdraw it.
Six other judges face warnings and monitoring
Beyond the three suspensions, the NJC considered 35 additional petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.
It dismissed 24 complaints for lacking sufficient merit, recommended four for further investigation and placed one matter on hold because it was sub judice.
The council also approved cautionary and warning measures against six judicial officers, including placement on its Watch List for six months.
They are Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court, Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court, Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court and Justice Chibuike L. Azuama of the Imo State High Court.
Justice Bello Kawu: Malami’s interim bail
The NJC found merit in a complaint against Justice Kawu over his decision to grant interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The council said the judge issued the bail order on December 23, 2025, despite knowing that another judge of the same court had made a subsisting remand order scheduled to expire at midnight on December 24.
The NJC directed that Kawu receive a warning letter and be placed on its six-month Watch List.
Two Nasarawa judges warned over delayed judgment
Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana were sanctioned for failing to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.
The judges reportedly argued that the constitutional deadline did not apply to appellate courts.
However, the NJC rejected their explanation, noting that they had acknowledged delivering the judgment outside the stipulated period without providing a satisfactory justification.
The council ordered that both judges receive warning letters and advised them to improve their case management in line with Section 294 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Justice Mohammed Zubairu cautioned over appellate proceedings
Justice Zubairu was cautioned after the NJC found that he continued entertaining an application and issuing orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.
The council considered his conduct an improper disregard for the authority of the appellate court and directed that he be placed on its Watch List.
Enugu and Imo judges also sanctioned
The investigation found that Justice Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court disregarded due process and the hierarchy of courts by continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for stay of proceedings.
He was cautioned and advised to familiarise himself with the legal requirements governing appeals.
Justice Azuama of the Imo State High Court was also cautioned after granting an ex parte garnishee order that froze the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit.
The NJC said the action caused the company substantial financial losses and directed that the judge be placed on its Watch List.
NJC recommends 28 candidates for judicial appointments
At the meeting, the council also recommended 28 candidates for appointment to various judicial positions across the country.
Of the nominees, 24 were recommended for positions as High Court judges in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun states.
The remaining recommendations included one Grand Kadi for the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, one Kadi for the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and two judges for the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
The council also directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the state’s most senior High Court judge and Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, among candidates being considered for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.
The decision followed a petition submitted on June 11 by Mr Bob Kay Njemanze, who challenged her exclusion from the shortlist forwarded by the state commission.
While acknowledging the constitutional responsibility of the State Judicial Service Commission to recommend suitable candidates, the NJC maintained that it retained the authority to assess the suitability of nominees presented to it.
It therefore directed its secretariat to formally request the Imo commission to add Agugua’s name to the shortlist.
NJC approves retirement of six judicial officers
The council also approved retirement notifications involving six judicial officers.
They include Supreme Court Justices Ibrahim Saulawa, who retired on September 29, 2026, and Uwani Abba-Aji, whose retirement was scheduled for November 7, 2026.
Others are Justice O. F. Omoleye of the Court of Appeal, who retired on October 6, 2026, and Justice Ogechi Okehielem of the Abia State High Court, who voluntarily retired on September 15, 2026.
The remaining officers are Justice Theresa Isidore Obot of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, scheduled for voluntary retirement on December 30, 2026, and Justice Munir Ladan of the Kaduna State High Court, whose voluntary retirement is scheduled for December 31, 2026.
The NJC also expressed sadness over the deaths of nine judicial officers between May 1 and September 26, 2026.
The latest decisions form part of the council’s constitutional responsibility to maintain discipline, accountability and professional standards within Nigeria’s judiciary.
