The National Judicial Council has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay following investigations into various acts of misconduct. The council also cautioned eight other judges for abuses that included the unlawful detention of litigants, overstepping judicial boundaries, and failing to adhere to proper legal procedures.
According to Blueprint Newspapers, the sanctions were approved during the council's 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026. The meeting was presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, with the findings released in an official statement signed by the council's Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
The three officers suspended without pay 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 and Justice Biambo were also barred from any judicial elevation for the next three years.
Investigations revealed that Justice Kabir detained a litigant unlawfully for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings or the mandatory service of Forms 48 and 49. In Rivers State, Justice Biambo issued bench warrants and levied fines of N300,000 on litigants without due process. In the case of Grand Kadi Salihu, he was found to have acted outside his powers by reopening a matter already decided by an FCT Upper Area Court and having a new judgment delivered.
Several other officers were sanctioned, including Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court, who received a warning letter and was placed on a watch list after granting interim bail to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami despite a conflicting remand order. Justice Kayode Agunloye was cautioned over questionable handling of garnishee proceedings involving First Bank, while Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana were issued warnings for missing the constitutional 90-day deadline for delivering appellate judgments.
