NJC Suspends Three Judicial Officers for One Year Without Pay Over Misconduct, Unlawful Detention of Litigants

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and barred two of them from promotion for three years over alleged misconduct, abuse of judicial powers and violations of established procedures.

The officers were sanctioned for offences including unlawful detention of litigants, disregard for due process, improper handling of cases and issuing questionable orders. The decisions were taken at the NJC's 112th meeting on November 3, 2026, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

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.

Justice 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 prescribed contempt procedures. The NJC found that she failed to serve the litigant with the mandatory Forms 48 and 49, violating his right to fair hearing. Besides the suspension, she was barred from promotion or elevation for three years.

Grand Kadi Salihu was sanctioned for reopening a judgment earlier delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court. The NJC found that he exceeded his authority by setting up a committee to review the judgment before transferring the matter to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered a different judgment. The council described the process as an attempt to appeal an existing judgment of a competent court.

Justice Biambo was suspended for ordering the arrest of litigants and fining each of them N300,000 in a civil dispute. The NJC found that he issued the orders without following proper contempt proceedings or serving the required documents. He was also barred from promotion for three years.

The council also issued sanctions to other judges:

• Justice Kayode Agunloye (FCT High Court): cautioned for granting another ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi in a case involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc after an earlier application on the same issue was withdrawn and struck out, and for proceeding while other applications, including one for stay of execution, were pending.
• Justice Bello Kawu: sanctioned for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite an existing remand order from another judge.
• Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana: warned for delivering judgments in an appeal after the constitutional 90-day period.
• Justice Mohammed Zubairu (FCT High Court): faulted for issuing orders after being told an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal.
• Justice C. A. Ogbuagor (Enugu State High Court): cautioned for continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and stay of execution application.
• Justice Chibuike Azuama (Imo State High Court): sanctioned for granting an ex parte garnishee order freezing Puma Energy's bank accounts although the company was not a party to the substantive suit.

The NJC also reviewed 35 petitions from its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. Twenty-four were dismissed for lacking merit, four were recommended for further investigation, and one was put on hold because the matter is already in court. It directed that the investigation into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court should continue even though the petitioner withdrew the complaint.

In addition, the council recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments. They include 24 High Court judges for Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun States, a Grand Kadi for the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, a Kadi for the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and two judges for the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.

The NJC further directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to add the name of the state's Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, to the shortlist for substantive Chief Judge, following a petition challenging her exclusion.