NJC Suspends Three Judges For One Year Without Pay Over Misconduct

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay over alleged misconduct, abuse of judicial authority and violations of established legal procedures.

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.

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The council also barred the three officers from consideration for promotion or elevation for three years and issued warnings and cautions to several other judges over their handling of court cases.

The decisions were reached at the NJC’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

Why NJC Suspended Justice Hannatu Kabir

Justice Kabir was sanctioned for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience to a court order without complying with the mandatory contempt procedures.

The NJC investigation found that she failed to serve the litigant with Forms 48 and 49 before ordering the detention.

The forms are required under the relevant legal procedures in contempt proceedings. The council held that failure to serve them violated the litigant’s right to a fair hearing.

In addition to her one-year suspension without pay, Justice Kabir was barred from being considered for promotion or elevation for three years.

Grand Kadi Salihu Sanctioned Over Reopening Of Judgment

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

According to the NJC, Salihu exceeded his authority by setting up a committee to review the earlier judgment.

He subsequently transferred the matter to another judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered a different judgment.

The council considered the process an attempt to appeal against an existing judgment of a court with the authority to determine the matter.

Justice Biambo Suspended Over Arrest Of Litigants

Justice Sobere Biambo was also suspended for ordering the arrest of litigants and imposing a fine of ₦300,000 on each of them in connection with a civil dispute.

The NJC found that he took the action without following the appropriate contempt proceedings or serving the required legal documents.

Like Grand Kadi Salihu, Justice Biambo was barred from consideration for elevation for three years.

NJC Warns Justice Agunloye Over Garnishee Proceedings

The council also issued a warning to Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

The NJC 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 further found that he proceeded with the application while other matters, including a request for a stay of execution, were still awaiting determination.

Justice Bello Kawu Warned Over Malami’s Bail

In another disciplinary decision, the NJC sanctioned Justice Bello Kawu for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, despite an existing remand order issued by another judge.

The council also issued warning letters to Justices Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana for delivering judgments in an appeal after the 90-day period prescribed by the Constitution.

Other Judges Receive Cautions

Other judicial officers who received cautions or were placed on the NJC’s Watch List include Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court.

He was faulted for issuing court orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal.

Justice C. A. Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was also cautioned for continuing proceedings in a case despite a pending appeal and an application seeking a stay of execution.

Similarly, Justice Chibuike Azuama of the Imo State High Court was sanctioned for granting an ex parte garnishee order that froze the bank accounts of Puma Energy, although the company was not a party to the main case.

The NJC’s decisions form part of its disciplinary measures aimed at enforcing judicial accountability, protecting due process and maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice.