NJC Suspends Three Judges, Warns Seven Over Abuse of Office, Misconduct

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and issued warnings or cautions to seven others over various forms of misconduct, including abuse of judicial powers and disregard for due process.

The decisions were taken at the council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The 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.

Justice Kabir was sanctioned 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 or serving the prescribed Forms 48 and 49. The NJC also barred her from nomination for elevation for three years.

Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended for reopening a judgment delivered by an FCT Upper Area Court through a review process that the council found exceeded his authority. The subsequent judgment was later set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.

Justice Biambo was sanctioned for issuing bench warrants and imposing fines of ₦300,000 each on litigants in a civil dispute without proper contempt proceedings or service of the required forms. He was also barred from elevation for three years.

The seven other judicial officers sanctioned are Justices Bello Kawu, Mohammed Zubairu, Danjuma Oyigbenu, Isa Ebini Kana, C. A. Ogbuagor, Chibuike Azuama and Kayode Agunloye.

Their cases involved issues including granting interim bail despite an existing remand order, delays in delivering judgments, making orders despite pending appeals and improperly freezing the bank accounts of a company that was not a party to a substantive suit.

Some of the affected judges were placed on the council’s watch list for six months, while others received caution or warning letters.

The NJC also reviewed 35 petitions submitted by its preliminary complaints assessment committees. It dismissed 24 for lack of merit, recommended four for further investigation and placed one in abeyance because it was sub judice.

The council further resolved to continue investigating a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court despite the petitioner’s notice of withdrawal.

The disciplinary decisions form part of the council’s oversight responsibilities to promote judicial accountability, professional conduct and public confidence in the administration of justice.