The disciplinary decisions were taken during the council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
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.
Justice Kabir was sanctioned for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience to a court order without following the legally required contempt proceedings.
The NJC found that she failed to serve the litigant with Forms 48 and 49, which are mandatory documents in contempt proceedings, before ordering the detention. The council held that her actions violated the litigant’s right to a fair hearing.
In addition to her one-year suspension without pay, Justice Kabir was barred from consideration for promotion or elevation for three years.
Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended over his involvement in reopening a judgment previously delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.
According to the council, he exceeded his judicial authority by establishing a committee to review the earlier judgment. The matter was subsequently transferred to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered a different judgment.
The NJC considered the process an attempt to appeal against an existing judgment of a court with the authority to determine the matter.
Justice Biambo was also sanctioned for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing a fine of ₦300,000 on each of them in connection with a civil dispute.
The council found that he took the action without following the appropriate contempt proceedings or serving the required legal documents. He was also barred from consideration for elevation for three years.
Meanwhile, the NJC issued a caution to Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The council faulted him for granting another ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier application on the same issue had been withdrawn and struck out.
It also noted that he proceeded with the application while other matters, including a request for a stay of execution, were still awaiting determination.
Other judicial officers also received warnings and cautions over their handling of court cases.
Justice Bello Kawu was among those sanctioned for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite an existing remand order issued by another judge.
Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana received warning letters for delivering judgments in an appeal after the 90-day period stipulated by the Constitution.
The council also placed other judicial officers under scrutiny, including Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, who was faulted for issuing court orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.
Similarly, Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was cautioned for continuing proceedings in a case despite a pending appeal and an application seeking a stay of execution.
Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court was also sanctioned for granting an ex parte garnishee order that froze the bank accounts of Puma Energy, despite the company not being a party to the main case.
NJC REVIEWS PETITIONS, RECOMMENDS 28 JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
Beyond the disciplinary decisions, the council reviewed 35 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.
Of the petitions considered, 24 were dismissed for lacking merit, while four were recommended for further investigation. Another petition was put on hold because the matter was already before a court.
The NJC also directed that investigations into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court should continue despite the petitioner’s decision to withdraw the complaint.
In a separate decision, the council recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments across different states.
The recommendations include 24 candidates for appointment as High Court judges in Kano, Ebonyi, Edo, Adamawa and Ogun States.
Other recommendations include a Grand Kadi for the Plateau State Sharia Court of Appeal, a Kadi for the Adamawa State Sharia Court of Appeal and two judges for the Adamawa State Customary Court of Appeal.
The council further directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, on the shortlist for appointment as the state’s substantive Chief Judge.
The directive followed a petition challenging her exclusion from the list of candidates being considered for the position.
The NJC also approved retirement notifications for six judicial officers, including two Justices of the Supreme Court, and expressed condolences over the deaths of nine judicial officers recorded between May and September 2026.
