The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and cautioned eight others over various acts of misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial powers and disregard for due process.
The decisions were taken at the Council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The three 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.
The Council found that Justice Kabir ordered the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order without initiating the required contempt proceedings or serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49.
It said the action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing. She was also barred from consideration for elevation for three years.
Grand Kadi Salihu was sanctioned for reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court by setting up a committee to review the decision and assigning the matter to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered a new judgment.
The NJC held that the process exceeded his authority and amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment of a court with competent jurisdiction.
Justice Biambo was suspended for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing fines of 300,000 naira each in a civil dispute without following the required contempt proceedings.
He was also barred from elevation for three years, alongside Grand Kadi Salihu.
The Council also cautioned Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria.
It found that he granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out, while other pending applications, including a request for a stay of execution, had yet to be heard.
In other disciplinary decisions, the NJC approved warnings for Justice Bello Kawu over his decision to grant interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite an existing remand order issued by another judge.
Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana also received warning letters for delivering judgments in appeals outside the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.
Other judicial officers cautioned or placed on the Council’s Watch List include Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court and Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court.
The Council also considered 35 petitions, dismissing 24 for lack of merit, recommending four for further investigation and placing one on hold because the matter was before a court.
It directed that investigations should continue into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court despite the petitioner's notice of withdrawal.
Meanwhile, the NJC recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across several states, including 24 High Court judges for Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun states.
It also recommended candidates for positions in the Plateau and Adamawa State Sharia Courts of Appeal and the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
The Council further directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in the shortlist for appointment as substantive Chief Judge
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