Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay over misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial powers and violations of due process.
The disciplinary 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 Council also placed six judicial officers on its Watch List, cautioned eight others, approved warning letters for three judges, dismissed 24 petitions and recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments.
Among those suspended was Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court, who was sanctioned for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order without commencing proper contempt proceedings or serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49.
The NJC held that her actions violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing. In addition to the one-year suspension without pay, Justice Kabir was barred from nomination for elevation for three years.
Also suspended was Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal over his involvement in reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.
An investigation found that he exceeded his judicial authority by constituting a committee to review the judgment and subsequently assigning the matter to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered a new judgment.
The Council determined that the action amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, contrary to Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016.
The third judicial officer sanctioned was Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court, who ordered the arrest of litigants and imposed fines of N300,000 each in a civil dispute without following the required contempt proceedings or serving the prescribed forms.
Like Justice Kabir, Justice Biambo was suspended for one year without pay and barred from nomination for elevation for three years.
Meanwhile, Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court received a warning letter and was placed on the Watch List over his decision to grant interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, despite an existing remand order.
Justice Kayode Agunloye, also of the FCT High Court, was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a case involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The NJC said the disciplinary measures reflect its commitment to judicial accountability, professional standards and restoring public confidence in the Nigerian judiciary.
