National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judges for one year without pay and sanctioned seven others over various acts of judicial misconduct, including abuse of office, unlawful detention of litigants and disregard for due process.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision was reached during 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 on Wednesday by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the council identified the suspended judges as 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 arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order without following the required contempt proceedings. She was also barred from elevation for three years.
Salihu was sanctioned for his involvement in reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court, a process the council found amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Similarly, Biambo was suspended over his issuance of bench warrants and imposition of fines on litigants in a civil dispute without due process. He was also barred from elevation for three years.
The council also approved warning letters and cautions for seven other judicial officers over different forms of misconduct.
They include Justices Bello Kawu and Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court; Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court; C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court; Chibuike L. Azuama of the Imo State High Court; and Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court.
Kawu was sanctioned for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite an existing remand order issued by another judge.
Oyigbenu and Kana were cautioned over their failure to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period, while Zubairu was faulted for making orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.
NJC also cautioned Ogbuagor for continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for stay of proceedings.
Azuama was sanctioned 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.
Agunloye was also cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a case involving First Bank of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the council dismissed 24 petitions against judicial officers for lack of merit, recommended four for further investigation and placed one petition in abeyance because it was sub judice.
It also 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.
NJC further recommended 28 candidates for various judicial appointments across the country.
