The National Judicial Council (NJC), has invoked its disciplinary powers against 256 judicial officers, who were queried for various performance related issues, while recommending the appointment of 12 new justices of the Court of Appeal to President Bola Tinubu.
In a marathon meeting held on Wednesday, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Council equally adopted a landmark policy affirming the eligibility of retired public servants for judicial appointments.
The meeting further took sweeping disciplinary actions including the suspension of two judges for one year without pay and the rejection of appeals by eight compulsorily retired judges from Imo State.
Those recommended for appointment as justices of the Court of Appeal are: Yakubu Abdulhammeed Mohammed, Ajuwa Raphael, Abua Ojie, Ijohor Mbalamen Jennifer, Shuaibu Bala and Omotosho James.
Others are Nwite Emeka, Buba Njane, Kado Sanusi, Ademola Enikuomehin and Dadom Julcit Veronica.
The Council at its 111th meeting suspended Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State for one year without pay for judicial misconduct involving the grant of an exparte order in breach of Rules 3.1; 3.3, and 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.
His suspension was sequel to a petition by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma over proceedings in suit No: NSD/MG56M/2025. The petitioner alleged that Justice Shekarau granted an exparte order directing the transfer of N7m from her bank account to a third party as a purported reversal of funds.
The Council similarly suspended Justice Edward A.E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for one year without pay over allegations of breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case. The decision followed a petition filed by Mr. Sunday Emmanuel Oso, who accused the judge of bias and denial of fair hearing in suit No: FCT/HC/PET/529/2024 between Lateef Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso.
Meanwhile, on the Imo State judicial crisis, the NJC extended the acting appointment of Justice Ijeoma Agugua as acting Chief Judge of Imo State for a further period of three months with effect from March 26 to June 26, 2026, to allow for completion of the process for appointing a substantive chief judge.
The NJC also deliberated on reports covering 98 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. Of these, 68 were dismissed for lack of merit, four judges were cautioned, one judge received a final warning, and 11 petitions were recommended for further investigation. The NJC in a landmark policy reaffirmed that the 1999 constitution does not prohibit retired public servants from judicial appointments.
