ABUJA, NIGERIA — The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three senior judicial officers for one year without pay and issued strong warnings to eight others following thorough investigations into flagrant abuse of judicial powers, procedural lawlessness, and severe violations of litigants’ human rights.
The far-reaching disciplinary measures were finalized during the Council’s 112th meeting held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
58 Days In Detention Without Due Process
Among the most severe cases handled was that of Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court. The NJC approved her one-year suspension without pay and barred her from nomination for elevation to higher courts for three years.
Justice Kabir was penalized for arbitrarily ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order. The Council found that she took this drastic action without initiating proper contempt proceedings or serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49, completely undermining constitutional due process.
Rivers and Jigawa Jurists Sanctioned
Two other judicial officers received one-year suspensions without pay for procedural overreaches:
- Justice Sobere Biambo (Rivers State High Court): Suspended and barred from promotion for three years over improper bench warrants and a ₦300,000 fine in a civil dispute.
- Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu (Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal): Suspended for unlawfully setting up a review committee to overturn an FCT Upper Area Court judgment.
Watchlists, Warnings, and New Appointments
The NJC dismissed 24 meritless petitions and placed select judges on a watchlist, including Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court. The council also ordered the inclusion of Acting Chief Judge Justice Ijeoma Agugua on the Imo State Judicial Service Commission shortlist and recommended 28 candidates for new judicial appointments.
