Three Judges Suspended by National Judicial Council for Misconduct

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judges for one year without pay due to misconduct. The council also cautioned eight other judges for their actions related to court cases. These decisions were made during a meeting on November 3, 2026, chaired by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

The three judges suspended are:

• Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir from Nasarawa State High Court
• Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu from Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal
• Justice Sobere Biambo from Rivers State High Court

Justice Kabir was suspended for unlawfully detaining a litigant for 58 days without following proper legal procedures. Salihu was found to have overstepped his authority by reopening a judgment that had already been made. Justice Biambo was suspended for issuing arrest orders and fines without following due process in a civil case.

The eight other judges received cautions or warning letters for various issues, including delays in delivering judgments and improper handling of court applications. For instance, Justice Kayode Agunloye was cautioned for mishandling a case involving First Bank of Nigeria, while Justice Bello Kawu was warned for granting bail despite an existing remand order.

The NJC also reviewed 35 petitions against judges, dismissing most for lack of merit but recommending further investigation for a few. The council emphasized the need for judges to adhere to legal procedures and improve their case management.