NJC suspends three judges for misconduct, warns seven others at November meeting
The National Judicial Council suspended three judges for one year without pay and warned seven others following its 112th meeting on November 3, chaired by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The council also recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments and dismissed multiple petitions.
Suspended judges include Justice Hannatu Kabir (Nasarawa High Court) for unlawfully detaining a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings; Grand Kadi Mohammed Salihu (Jigawa Sharia Court of Appeal) for exceeding authority by reopening a valid judgment; and Justice Sobere Biambo (Rivers High Court) for issuing bench warrants and imposing ₦300,000 fines on litigants without due process. Kabir and Biambo also face three-year bars on elevation.
Seven judges received warnings and six-month watch-list placements: Justices Bello Kawu and Mohammed Zubairu (FCT High Court) for conflicting bail orders and disregarding appellate jurisdiction; Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana (Nasarawa High Court) for missing the 90-day constitutional judgment deadline; Justice C.A. Ogbuagor (Enugu High Court) for judicial impertinence; Justice Chibuike Azuama (Imo High Court) for freezing a non-party's accounts; and Justice Kayode Agunloye (FCT High Court) for improper garnishee proceedings.
The NJC dismissed 24 petitions for lack of merit, struck out one for social media leakage violating judicial policy, and ordered continued investigation into a petition against Justice G.N. Ugbala (Ebonyi High Court) despite petitioner withdrawal.
With judicial officers across nine states disciplined, the NJC signals active accountability enforcement. If you're litigating in affected courts, how might these sanctions impact case management and judicial behavior in your jurisdiction?