NJC Suspends Three Judges Without Pay, Sanctions Eight Others Over Misconduct

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and sanctioned eight others over various acts of misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial powers and violations of due process.

The council also barred two of the suspended judges from elevation for three years, while directing that warning letters be issued to three judicial officers over their handling of court proceedings.

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

In a statement published on the council’s website on Wednesday and signed by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the NJC identified the suspended officers as 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 one year without pay and barred from elevation for three years over the unlawful detention of a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings. The council found that she ordered the individual’s arrest and detention without issuing and serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or following the required legal procedure.

The NJC held that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be dealt with through summary proceedings. It also concluded that the action violated the litigant’s right to a fair hearing.

Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended for one year without pay over his involvement in reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court. The council found that he exceeded his authority by setting up a committee to review the judgment and subsequently assigning the matter to a Higher Sharia Court judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered another judgment. The decision was later set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.

Justice Biambo was also suspended for one year without pay and barred from elevation for three years over his handling of a civil dispute. The NJC found that he issued bench warrants against litigants and imposed fines of N300,000 on each without instituting proper contempt proceedings or serving Forms 48 and 49.

Beyond the suspensions, the council took disciplinary action against eight other judicial officers. Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc. The NJC 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 applications remained pending.

Justice Bello Kawu, also of the FCT High Court, was directed to receive a warning letter and be placed on the council’s Watch List for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, despite an existing remand order issued by another judge of the same court.

The council also directed that warning letters be issued to Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court for failing to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90 days. It rejected their explanations that the provision did not apply to appellate courts and advised them to improve their case management.

Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court was cautioned and placed on the Watch List for entertaining an application and making orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal. The NJC described the action as a disregard for the appellate court and bordering on insubordination.

Similarly, Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was cautioned for continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for a stay of proceedings. The council found that his conduct disregarded due process, the hierarchy of courts and the right to a fair hearing.

Justice Chibuike L. Azuama of the Imo State High Court was also cautioned and placed on the Watch List after the NJC found that he granted an ex parte garnishee order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit. The council said the order caused the company substantial losses.

Meanwhile, the NJC considered 35 petitions presented by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. It dismissed 24 for lacking merit, recommended four for further investigation and placed one on hold because the matter was already before a court.

The council also 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