NJC Suspends Three Judges, Disciplines Six Others for Misconduct

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judges for one year without pay over various acts of judicial misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, reopening of concluded cases, and imposition of fines without due process. The council also barred two of the judges from elevation for three years, while issuing warning letters and cautions to six other judicial officers over alleged breaches of judicial conduct.

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 suspended judges 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 over the unlawful detention of a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings. The NJC found that she ordered the litigant's arrest and detention for alleged disobedience of court orders without the issuance and service of the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or the institution of proper contempt proceedings. This action violated the litigant's right to 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 NJC found that he exceeded his authority by constituting 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 third judge, Biambo, was suspended for one year without pay and barred from elevation for three years over the issuance of bench warrants and imposition of fines on litigants in a civil dispute without due process. The council also cautioned Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court over his handling of proceedings involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

The NJC also cautioned Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court over their failure to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90 days. The council rejected their arguments that the constitutional provision did not apply to appellate courts, noting their admission that judgment was delivered outside the stipulated period without a satisfactory explanation for the delay.

In another development, the NJC recommended 28 candidates for appointment as judicial officers across five states and the Federal Capital Territory. The candidates comprise 24 nominees for appointment as High Court judges, one candidate for appointment as Grand Kadi of the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, and two candidates for the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.

Key points

• The National Judicial Council suspended three judges for one year without pay for various acts of judicial misconduct.
• The council also disciplined six other judicial officers, issuing warning letters and cautions for alleged breaches of judicial conduct.
• The NJC recommended 28 candidates for appointment as judicial officers across five states and the Federal Capital Territory.