The National Judicial Council has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and sanctioned eight others over different acts of misconduct. The disciplinary measures follow findings of unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial authority, and clear disregard for due process.
The council reached these decisions during its 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. According to Punch, the announcement was shared via an official statement issued by the council’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
The three suspended judges 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. Alongside their one-year unpaid suspensions, Justice Kabir and Justice Biambo have also been barred from elevation to higher benches for three years.
An investigative panel found that Justice Kabir unlawfully detained a litigant for 58 days without instituting proper contempt proceedings or issuing mandatory Forms 48 and 49. In Rivers State, Justice Biambo issued bench warrants and imposed fines of N300,000 on litigants in a civil matter without following due process. Grand Kadi Salihu was penalised for exceeding his authority by reopening and assigning an earlier judgment delivered by an FCT Upper Area Court to another judge for a fresh ruling.
Among the other sanctioned judicial officers, Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court received a warning letter and was placed on the council’s watch list. An inquiry revealed he granted interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, SAN, while fully aware of an existing remand order from another judge of the same court. Justice Kayode Agunloye, also of the FCT High Court, was cautioned over questionable moves in a garnishee matter involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
Warning letters were also directed to Justice Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Justice Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court for failing to deliver an appeal ruling within the required constitutional period.
At the same meeting, the council recommended 28 candidates to fill judicial openings across six states. These recommendations include 24 positions for State High Courts alongside appointments to Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal.
