From illegal detention to courtroom abuse: NJC punishes three judges

The affected judicial 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.

The council also barred two of them from promotion for three years and issued warnings or cautions to six other judges over alleged misconduct.

The decisions were reached at the NJC’s 112th meeting on November 3, 2026, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the council said Justice Kabir was sanctioned for detaining a litigant for 58 days over alleged contempt without following the legally prescribed procedures, including the issuance of Forms 48 and 49.

Grand Kadi Salihu was punished for reopening a case already decided by the FCT Upper Area Court. The NJC said he exceeded his authority by setting up a committee to review the judgment and arranging for another court to hear fresh evidence and deliver a new ruling.

Justice Biambo, meanwhile, was found to have issued bench warrants against litigants in a civil dispute and imposed fines of N300,000 on each of them without commencing proper contempt proceedings.

The council said the three actions violated established judicial procedures and the rights of the affected parties.

Among other sanctions, the NJC cautioned Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite an existing remand order issued by another judge. He was also placed on the council’s Watch List.

Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana of the Nasarawa State High Court received warning letters for delivering judgment in an appeal outside the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.

Other judicial officers cautioned were Justices Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court and Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court.

Justice Azuama was also placed on the Watch List for granting an ex parte garnishee order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit.

In a separate decision, the NJC recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments in five states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The nominees include 24 candidates for High Court positions in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun states, as well as candidates for judicial positions in the Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal in Plateau and Adamawa states.

The council also directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in the shortlist for appointment as substantive Chief Judge following a petition challenging her exclusion.