NJC sanctions 8 judges for abuse of power, suspends 3

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has sanctioned 11 judicial officers over misconduct, including unlawful detention, abuse of judicial powers and disregard for court procedures.

Three judges were suspended for one year without pay, while eight others were cautioned, placed on a watch list or directed to receive warning letters.

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

In a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the NJC said the affected officers included judges from Nasarawa, Jigawa, Rivers, the Federal Capital Territory, Enugu and Imo states.

The three suspended 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.

Kabir was suspended for ordering the detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of court orders without initiating the required contempt proceedings or serving Forms 48 and 49.

The council said the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be dealt with summarily. It also found that the judge’s action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing.

She was also barred from nomination for elevation for three years.

Salihu was sanctioned for reopening a judgment delivered by an FCT Upper Area Court. The NJC said 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 council held that the process amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment of a competent court, which was later set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.

Biambo was suspended for issuing bench warrants and imposing fines on litigants in a civil dispute without following due process.

The NJC said he ordered the arrest of petitioners over alleged disobedience of an interim injunction and fined each N300,000 without instituting contempt proceedings or serving the required forms.

Like Kabir, he was barred from elevation for three years.

Among the other officers sanctioned, Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court was directed to receive a warning letter and placed on the council’s watch list for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite a subsisting remand order issued by another judge.

The NJC said Kawu knew of the remand order, which was due to expire at midnight on December 24, 2025, but granted Malami interim bail on December 23.

Justice Kayode Agunloye, also of the FCT High Court, was cautioned over his handling of garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

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, while other applications, including one for stay of execution, remained pending.

Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court were directed to receive warning letters for failing to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90 days.

The council said the judges admitted delivering the judgment outside the stipulated period but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the delay.

Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court was cautioned and placed on the watch list for entertaining an application and issuing orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.

The NJC said his conduct amounted to disregard for the appellate court and bordered on insubordination.

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

Justice Chibuike L. Azuama of the Imo State High Court was also cautioned and placed on the watch list for granting 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 and advised the judge to take his judicial responsibilities seriously.

The NJC also reviewed 35 petitions considered by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. It dismissed 24 for lack of merit, recommended four for further investigation and placed one in abeyance because it was sub judice.

It further 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.