NJC Goes Tough Against Judicial Impunity, Suspends Officers {Full List}

OpenLife News reports that the hammer of justice has fallen — and this time, it fell on the judges themselves.

In a bold, fearless move that has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian judiciary, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay over various acts of misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial powers and brazen disregard for due process.

It was a day of reckoning. A day the Council declared: No one is above the law — not even those who sit to interpret it.

The Council also cautioned eight other judicial officers and approved warning letters to three judges following painstaking investigations into petitions concerning their handling of cases.

According to Channels TV on Wednesday, the historic decisions were taken at the NJC’s 112th meeting, held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The Three Judges Who Fell

The 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.

Justice Kabir was suspended for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order without initiating proper contempt proceedings or serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49.

For 58 long days, a citizen languished behind bars without fair hearing. The Council also barred her from nomination for elevation for three years, holding that her action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing.

Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended over his involvement in reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.

The investigation found that he exceeded his 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 process was held to amount to an appeal against a valid judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction — a judicial abomination.

Justice Biambo was sanctioned for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing fines of N300,000 each in a civil dispute without proper contempt proceedings or service of the prescribed forms.

Salihu and Biambo were also barred from elevation for three years.

The Cautioned And Warned

The Council cautioned Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a suit involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

It found that he granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out, while other pending applications, including an application for stay of execution, were awaiting hearing.

In another disciplinary decision, the NJC approved warnings and cautions for other judicial officers, including Justice Bello Kawu, who granted 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 were also issued warning letters for delivering judgment in an appeal outside the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.

Others cautioned or placed on the Council’s Watch List include Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court, for making orders after being informed that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal; Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court, for continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and application for stay; and Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court, for granting an ex parte garnishee order freezing the accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit.

35 Petitions Considered

The NJC also considered 35 petitions from its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees, dismissing 24 for lack of merit, recommending four for further investigation and placing one in abeyance because it was sub judice.

It further directed that investigations should continue into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court despite the petitioner’s notice of withdrawal.

The message from the NJC is loud and clear: The era of judicial impunity is over.

Questions About NJC

Q: How many judges did NJC suspend?
A: NJC suspended 3 judicial officers for 1 year without pay at its 112th meeting on November 3, 2026.

Q: Who are the 3 judges suspended by NJC?
A: Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of Nasarawa High Court, Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of Jigawa Sharia Court of Appeal, and Justice Sobere Biambo of Rivers High Court.

Q: Why was Justice Kabir suspended?
A: Justice Kabir was suspended for ordering arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings or serving Forms 48 and 49, violating fair hearing.

Q: What is NJC?
A: National Judicial Council (NJC) is the body responsible for discipline and appointment of judicial officers in Nigeria, chaired by CJN Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.