The National Judicial Council (NJC) has initiated disciplinary action against more than 256 judges across the country over allegations of misconduct, marking one of the most extensive judicial accountability exercises in recent years.
The development also includes the suspension of two High Court judges for one year without pay following findings of misconduct and breach of fair hearing principles.
The Council, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said the actions form part of ongoing reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the judiciary and strengthening ethical standards within the bench.
The move follows renewed calls for judicial reform, including earlier remarks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who urged the judiciary to uphold integrity, warning that corruption within the justice system undermines democracy and national stability.
According to NJC proceedings, the affected judges are facing allegations ranging from misconduct and procedural violations to performance-related concerns. The Council also reviewed dozens of petitions submitted to its disciplinary committees, with several cases dismissed for lack of merit while others were escalated for further investigation.
In addition to suspensions and warnings, the NJC issued cautions, final warnings, and recommended further scrutiny in multiple cases, while also rejecting appeals from judges previously sanctioned for alleged irregularities, including age falsification.
The Council further strengthened its enforcement actions by referring a legal practitioner to security authorities for alleged perjury and forwarding multiple lawyers to disciplinary bodies over petitions described as frivolous or unsubstantiated.
As part of its broader reforms, the NJC emphasized transparency in judicial appointments and disciplinary procedures, including the publication of shortlisted candidates for judicial positions to allow public input on integrity concerns.
Officials say the reforms are part of a wider effort to address public perception issues surrounding the judiciary, including concerns about delays, inefficiency, and external influence.
While acknowledging that some members of the bench have undermined public trust, the CJN maintained that allegations of corruption must be evidence-based and not generalized across the judiciary.
The NJC said the ongoing actions represent a structured attempt to enforce accountability while also recognizing judges who demonstrated exceptional performance during the review period.
