The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay over alleged misconduct, abuse of judicial powers and disregard for due process. The council also issued warning letters to three officers and cautioned eight others following its consideration of investigation reports on petitions against judicial officers.
The suspended 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.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in Abuja by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the council said Kabir was also barred from nomination for elevation for three years over the unlawful detention of a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings. Salihu was sanctioned for reopening a judgment through a review process that exceeded his authority, while Biambo was suspended for issuing bench warrants and imposing fines on litigants in a civil dispute without due process.
The NJC, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also cautioned Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc. It said his decision to entertain a fresh ex parte application after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out, while other applications remained pending, created room for justifiable suspicion. The council dismissed or struck out several other petitions, while directing that an investigation into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court should continue despite its withdrawal.
The council further directed that warning letters be issued to Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of Nasarawa State over delays in delivering an appeal judgment beyond the constitutionally prescribed 90 days. It also cautioned and placed on its Watch List for six months Justices Bello Kawu and Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, as well as Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court. Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was cautioned over findings of judicial impertinence, denial of fair hearing and disregard for due process.
Beyond disciplinary matters, the NJC recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments, including 24 High Court judges in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun States, a Grand Kadi for the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, a Kadi for the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and two judges for the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal. It also directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the state’s most senior High Court judge, Acting Chief Judge Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in the shortlist for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.
The council approved retirement notifications for six judicial officers, including Supreme Court Justices Ibrahim Saulawa and Uwani Abba-Aji, alongside officers from the Court of Appeal and state judiciaries. It also expressed sadness over the deaths of nine judicial officers between May 1 and Sept. 26.
Leave a Reply