The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay and cautioned eight others over various acts of misconduct, including unlawful detention of litigants, abuse of judicial powers and disregard for due process.
The council also barred two of the suspended judges from elevation for three years and directed that warning letters be issued to three judicial officers over their handling of court cases.
According to a statement issued by the NJC Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the 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 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 unlawfully detaining a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of court orders without following the mandatory contempt procedures.
Grand Kadi Salihu was sanctioned for exceeding his judicial authority by reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court, constituting a committee to review the decision and subsequently assigning the matter to another court for fresh evidence and judgment.
Justice Biambo was suspended over the issuance of bench warrants and the imposition of fines on litigants involved in a civil dispute without following due process.
Meanwhile, Justice Kayode Agunloye of the Federal Capital Territory High Court was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria.
Other judicial officers mentioned in the council’s disciplinary decisions include Justices Bello Kawu, Danjuma A. Oyigbenu, Isa Ebini Kana, Mohammed Zubairu, C. A. Ogbuagor and Chibuike L. Azuama.
The NJC also directed that warning letters be issued to three judicial officers over their handling of court cases.
