No fewer than 34 lawyers nominated for appointment as Judges of Federal High Court have been disqualified after failing the integrity screening process introduced by National Judicial Council.
Gatekeepers News reports that the lawyers were among 62 candidates earlier nominated for Federal High Court bench but were eliminated following petitions and adverse findings that arose during the integrity test.
The screening exercise forms part of new measures approved by NJC under the leadership of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to prevent the appointment of candidates with questionable character.
Sources at the NJC said the integrity test involved public scrutiny of nominees after their names were published in September 2025, inviting feedback on their reputation, conduct, and suitability for judicial office. Several petitions were reportedly received, prompting further investigations by relevant authorities.
In one case, a female nominee was accused of demanding and receiving a bribe in the course of official duties. The matter was referred to the Police Service Commission, which reportedly confirmed that she collected one million naira in connection with a court case handled by her office.
Following the outcome of investigations and review of petitions, Federal Judicial Service Commission cleared only 28 nominees, while the remaining 34 were dropped for failing to meet the required integrity standards. The cleared candidates have now been forwarded to the NJC for the next stage of the selection process.
The 28 shortlisted nominees are expected to face NJC interview panel ahead of the Council’s meeting scheduled for mid-January 2026, where final decisions on appointments will be taken.
Confirming the development, NJC Director of Information, Kemi Ogedegbe, said the Council would meet between January 13 and 14 to consider issues relating to the shortlisted candidates. She noted that the interviews would take place days before the meeting.
She said, “Transparency and judicial integrity have remained a top priority for the Kekere-Ekun-led administration. There is no going back on that. Merit is the only factor that will come into play during the interview, and only those found suitable will succeed.”
