NJC Suspends Three Judges Without Pay, Bars Others From Promotion Over Misconduct

By Reporter

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and barred some of them from promotion for three years over alleged misconduct, abuse of judicial powers and violations of established judicial procedures.

The affected judges were also sanctioned for offences bordering on unlawful detention of litigants, disregard for due process, improper handling of court cases and issuing questionable judicial orders.

The decisions were taken at the NJC’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The three suspended judicial 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.

Justice Kabir was suspended for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience to a court order without complying with the prescribed contempt procedures.

The NJC investigation established that she failed to serve the litigant with the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 before ordering the detention, thereby violating the litigant’s right to fair hearing.

In addition to her one-year suspension without pay, the council barred her from consideration for promotion or elevation for three years.

Grand Kadi Salihu was sanctioned for reopening a judgment previously delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.

The NJC found that he exceeded his judicial authority by setting up a committee to review the earlier judgment before transferring the matter to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered a different judgment.

The council faulted the process, describing it as an attempt to appeal against an existing judgment of a court competent to determine the matter.

Justice Biambo was similarly suspended for one year without pay for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing a fine of N300,000 on each of them in connection with a civil dispute.

The NJC found that he issued the orders without following the appropriate contempt proceedings or serving the required legal documents. He was also barred from promotion or elevation for three years.

Meanwhile, the council issued a caution to Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of garnishee proceedings in a case involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

Justice Agunloye was faulted for granting another ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier application on the same issue had been withdrawn and struck out.

The NJC also observed that he proceeded with the application while other pending applications, including a request for stay of execution, had yet to be determined.

In another disciplinary decision, Justice Bello Kawu was sanctioned for granting 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 after the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.

Other judicial officers who received cautions or were placed on the NJC Watch List include Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, who was faulted for issuing court orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.

Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was cautioned for continuing proceedings in a matter despite a pending appeal and an application for stay of execution.

Similarly, Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court was sanctioned for granting an ex parte garnishee order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, despite the company not being a party to the substantive suit.

The council also reviewed 35 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.

Of the petitions considered, 24 were dismissed for lacking merit, while four were recommended for further investigation. One petition was put on hold because the subject matter was already before a court.

The NJC further 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 council recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across the country.

The recommendations include 24 candidates for appointment as High Court judges in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun States.

Others are 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.

The council also directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, on the shortlist for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.

The directive followed a petition challenging her exclusion from the list of candidates being considered for the position.