The National Judicial Council (NJC) of Nigeria has taken disciplinary actions against 11 judicial officers for misconduct. On November 3, 2026, during its 112th meeting, the NJC decided to suspend three judges without pay for one year. 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 suspended for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days without following due process. The NJC found that she violated the litigant's right to a fair hearing and barred her from consideration for elevation for three years. Grand Kadi Salihu was sanctioned for reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court and assigning the matter to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered a new judgment.
Justice Biambo was suspended for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing fines of 300,000 naira each in a civil dispute without following the required contempt proceedings. He was also barred from elevation for three years, alongside Grand Kadi Salihu. In addition to the suspensions, the NJC cautioned eight other judicial officers for various acts of misconduct.
The NJC cautioned Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria. The Council 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that he granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out.
Other judicial officers, including Justice Bello Kawu, Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu, and Isa Ebini Kana, received warning letters for their misconduct. Justice Kawu was warned for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite an existing remand order. Justices Oyigbenu and Kana were warned for delivering judgments in appeals outside the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.
The NJC considered 35 petitions, dismissing 24 for lack of merit and recommending four for further investigation. One petition was placed on hold because the matter was before a court, and investigations will continue into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court.
The NJC also recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across several states. The recommendations include 24 High Court judges for Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa, and Ogun states. Additionally, the Council recommended candidates for positions in the Plateau and Adamawa State Sharia Courts of Appeal and the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
Key points
- The National Judicial Council suspended three judges and sanctioned eight others for misconduct.
- The suspended judges are Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir, Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu, and Justice Sobere Biambo.
- The NJC also recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across several states.
