NJC Suspends Three Judges, Sanctions Eight Others [FULL LIST]

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and sanctioned eight others following findings of judicial misconduct, abuse of power, unlawful detention of litigants, and disregard for procedural rules.

In addition to the suspensions, the council barred two of the affected judges from elevation to higher courts for three years and ordered that formal warning letters be issued to three judicial officers regarding their management of court proceedings.

The disciplinary measures were announced in an official statement released by NJC Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following the council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The three suspended 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 eight other judicial officers sanctioned under the council’s decisions include Justice Kayode Agunloye, Justice Bello Kawu, Justice Danjuma A. Oyigbenu, Justice Isa Ebini Kana, Justice Mohammed Zubairu, Justice C. A. Ogbuagor, Justice Chibuike L. Azuama, and one additional officer referenced in the council’s report.

Judges Suspended For One Year

1. Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir – Nasarawa State High Court
Justice Kabir was suspended for one year without pay and barred from promotion or elevation for three years after ordering the unlawful detention of a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings.
The NJC committee established that she ordered the arrest and detention of the litigant for alleged court order disobedience without issuing or serving mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or holding formal contempt proceedings. Because the alleged contempt took place outside the presence of the court, the panel ruled it could not be tried summarily, finding her actions to be a violation of the litigant’s right to a fair hearing.

2. Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu – Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal
Salihu received a one-year suspension without pay for exceeding his judicial authority by reopening a judgment previously delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.
The panel found that Salihu improperly set up a committee to review the verdict and assigned the case to a Higher Sharia Court judge to receive fresh evidence and issue a new ruling. The council held that this action amounted to an illegal appeal against a valid judgment of a competent court, violating Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers (2016).

3. Justice Sobere Biambo – Rivers State High Court
Justice Biambo was suspended for one year without pay and barred from judicial elevation for three years for improperly issuing bench warrants and imposing monetary fines on civil litigants.
The panel noted that he ordered the arrest of petitioners for allegedly violating an interim injunction and fined each of them ₦300,000 without serving Forms 48 and 49 or initiating formal contempt proceedings for an alleged act committed outside the court room.

Judicial Officers Cautioned Or Issued Warning Letters

4. Justice Kayode Agunloye – FCT High Court
Justice Agunloye was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The council found that he improperly entertained and granted a new ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi on October 22, 2025, after a similar application had been struck out, and while the bank’s application for a stay of execution was pending for an adjourned date of November 4, 2025.

5. Justice Bello Kawu – FCT High Court
Justice Kawu was directed to be issued a warning letter and placed on the NJC Watch List for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), despite an existing remand order issued by a coordinate judge of the same court.
The committee noted that Justice Kawu was aware of the prior order set to expire at midnight on December 24, 2025, but proceeded to grant interim bail on December 23, 2025.

6. Justice Danjuma A. Oyigbenu – Nasarawa State High Court
7. Justice Isa Ebini Kana – Nasarawa State High Court
Both judges were directed to receive formal warning letters for failing to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally mandated 90-day window.
The council rejected their defense that the constitutional timeline did not bind appellate panels, finding they breached Section 294 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

8. Justice Mohammed Zubairu – FCT High Court
Justice Zubairu was cautioned and placed on the NJC Watch List for entertaining applications and issuing orders after being formally notified that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal, which the council characterized as insubordination toward a higher court.

9. Justice C. A. Ogbuagor – Enugu State High Court
Justice Ogbuagor was cautioned for proceeding with trial despite a pending appeal and an active motion for a stay of proceedings, with the council citing a denial of fair hearing and procedural impropriety.

10. Justice Chibuike L. Azuama – Imo State High Court
Justice Azuama was cautioned, placed on the Watch List, and advised to exercise greater diligence after granting an ex parte Garnishee Order that froze the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a corporate entity that was not a party to the substantive suit.

In total, the NJC reviewed reports on 35 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. The council dismissed 24 petitions for lack of merit, recommended four for full investigation, and held one in abeyance as it remains sub judice.

The council also directed that an investigation proceed regarding a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court, despite the petitioner submitting a formal notice of withdrawal.