By Kazeem Waris
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judges for one year over various acts of judicial misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial powers and violation of due process.
The Council also placed six other judicial officers on its watchlist and issued them warnings following investigations into allegations of misconduct.
The decisions were taken at the NJC’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
In a statement issued late Tuesday by the Deputy Director of Information at the NJC, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the Council disclosed that it had also dismissed 24 petitions against judicial officers across the country, while recommending four others for further investigation.
The Council equally approved the appointment of 28 judicial officers.
Among those sanctioned was Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court, who was suspended for one year without pay and barred from promotion for three years over the unlawful detention of a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings.
According to the NJC, its Investigation Committee found that the judge ordered the arrest and detention of the litigant for alleged disobedience of court orders without issuing and serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or instituting proper contempt proceedings.
“The alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be summarily tried and punished,” the statement said.
The committee further found that the action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing.
Grand Kadi suspended over reversal of court judgment
Also suspended was the Grand Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal, Mohammed Sani Salihu, who was sanctioned over his involvement in reopening a judgment delivered by an FCT Upper Area Court.
The NJC said its Investigation Committee found that the Grand Kadi 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 committee held that the process amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The subsequent judgment was later set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.
The NJC further found that the conduct violated Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016.
Consequently, the Council directed that the most senior Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal should perform the functions of the Grand Kadi during the suspension.
Rivers judge sanctioned over N300,000 fines
The third judicial officer sanctioned was Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court, who was suspended over the issuance of bench warrants and imposition of fines on litigants in a civil dispute without following due process.
The investigation established that the judge ordered the arrest of petitioners over alleged disobedience of an interim injunction and subsequently imposed a fine of N300,000 on each of them without instituting contempt proceedings or serving Forms 48 and 49.
The committee held that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be summarily tried and punished.
NJC cautions FCT judge over First Bank garnishee proceedings
Meanwhile, the Council cautioned Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a suit involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The NJC said its Investigation Committee found that the judge improperly entertained and granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi on October 22, 2025, after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out.
This happened while other pending applications, including the bank’s application for stay of execution, had been adjourned to November 4, 2025.
The committee held that the judge’s action created room for justifiable suspicion.
Malami’s bail: NJC places FCT judge on watchlist
In another significant decision, the NJC placed Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court on its watchlist after finding merit in a petition concerning his decision to grant interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The Council said the judge granted the interim bail despite a subsisting remand order issued by another judge of the same court.
The decision formed part of the cases considered by the Council during its 112th meeting.
NJC moves on Imo acting Chief Judge
The Council also directed its Secretariat to formally request the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, among candidates for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.
The latest decisions underscore the NJC’s disciplinary responsibilities in maintaining judicial accountability, enforcing professional standards and protecting public confidence in the administration of justice.
With three judges suspended, six others placed on a watchlist, 24 petitions dismissed and four referred for further investigation, the Council’s latest meeting addressed both disciplinary matters and appointments within the nation’s judiciary.
