The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without salary and issued warnings to several others over alleged misconduct, abuse of judicial authority and violations of established legal procedures.

The disciplinary 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 Kekere-Ekun, following investigations into petitions against judicial officers across the country.

Those suspended 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 sanctioned for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience to a court order without complying with the required contempt procedures or serving Forms 48 and 49.

The Council held that her action breached the litigant’s right to fair hearing and consequently barred her from consideration for promotion for three years.

Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended for exceeding his judicial authority by reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.

Investigations revealed that he constituted a committee to review the judgment and subsequently transferred the matter to another judge, who admitted fresh evidence and delivered a new ruling. The NJC considered the process an improper attempt to appeal against a valid judgment delivered by a court with competent jurisdiction.

Similarly, Justice Biambo was sanctioned for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing fines of N300,000 on each of them in connection with a civil dispute without following the prescribed contempt proceedings.

He was also barred from elevation for three years.

The Council further issued a caution to Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

It faulted the judge for granting a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier application on the same matter had been withdrawn and struck out, while other applications, including a request for stay of execution, were still pending.

In another disciplinary decision, the NJC approved a warning 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 an appeal beyond the constitutionally stipulated 90-day period.

Other judicial officers cautioned or placed on the Council’s Watch List include Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, for making orders after being notified that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal.

Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was also sanctioned for proceeding with a case despite a pending appeal and an application for stay of execution.

Similarly, Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court was cautioned for issuing an ex parte garnishee order that froze the accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit.

The NJC also reviewed 35 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. Of these, 24 were dismissed for lacking merit, four were recommended for further investigation, while one was suspended because the matter was already before a court.

The Council additionally directed that investigations into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court should continue despite the petitioner’s decision to withdraw the complaint.

Meanwhile, the NJC recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments in various states.

The recommendations comprise 24 candidates for High Court positions in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun States, 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 Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, among candidates shortlisted for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.

The directive followed a petition challenging her exclusion from the selection process.