The National Judicial Council has taken action against three judges, suspending them for one year without pay.
The judges are Justice Jane E. Inyang from the Court of Appeal in Uyo, Justice Inyang Ekwo from the Federal High Court in Abuja, and Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu from the Federal High Court in Zamfara.
Also, the council has instructed the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, to reverse the appointment of the state’s acting chief judge. These decisions were made during the council’s 108th meeting, which took place on April 29 and 30, 2025.
The NJC also directed Uzodimma to reverse the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge. They also asked the Acting Chief Judge to explain within seven days why he should not face disciplinary actions.
The NJC told the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Imo State to explain in seven days why he shouldn’t face punishment for leading the JSC meeting that suggested the Acting Chief Judge’s appointment, which is against the provision of the Constitution.
Kemi Babalola, the Deputy Director of Information for the NJC, has announced that the council is investigating 27 judges due to various misconduct allegations. The council has established nine committees to address this matter. Recently, they dismissed 29 complaints and issued a warning letter to one judge from the Federal High Court. They also decided that future appointments of judges will be more transparent and open to public scrutiny. They also directed Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to appoint the most senior judge from the State High Court to serve as the acting Chief Judge, following the procedures outlined in the Nigerian Constitution.
During a recent meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC), led by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, key decisions were made regarding the appointment of an acting Chief Judge for a state. They clarified that the laws do not allow for any personal judgments in this process. According to the Constitution, if a Chief Judge cannot perform their duties due to a vacancy or other reasons, the Governor must appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court to take over until a new Chief Judge is appointed or the current one returns.
The Council instructed that Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu should be given a formal notice to explain why he should not face disciplinary action for attempting to be sworn in as the acting Chief Judge of Imo State.
Justice V. U. Okorie, the head of the Customary Court of Appeal in Imo State, who supported Nzeukwu’s appointment, also has to explain his involvement in this matter within the same week. In another decision, the Council decided to suspend Justice Jane E. Inyang from the Court of Appeal for one year without pay. This action follows an investigation that revealed she violated judicial conduct rules. Inyang was found guilty of misusing her position by issuing improper orders related to the sale of a petrol station during a legal case. This misconduct was reported to have occurred while handling a case at the Federal High Court in Uyo before being promoted to the Court of Appeal.
n a significant ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has been suspended for one year without pay. Additionally, he has been placed on a judicial watch list for five years and is prohibited from any promotions during this period.
This decision arises from Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, in which Justice Ekwo issued a ruling on a pending application without hearing from the involved parties, a serious breach of judicial protocol. Specifically, it was found that he failed to address a critical request to nullify court proceedings that were conducted in the absence of the parties concerned, which ultimately resulted in a ruling that dismissed the case against the defendants without due process.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) determined that his actions violated Rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of Nigeria, which emphasize the importance of fair hearing and impartiality. In a similar development, Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court in Zamfara has also been suspended for one year without pay due to egregious judicial misconduct. He is subject to a three-year watch list during which he cannot receive any promotions. Justice Baffa was found guilty of serious breaches of the judicial code, particularly in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/30/2021, where he issued an unlawful order that obstructed security agencies from carrying out their lawful duties.
Moreover, he overlooked the fundamental legal doctrine that compels courts to adhere to established precedents in their decisions, resulting in profound consequences for the legal framework and the integrity of the judiciary. The NJC’s conclusions regarding both judges highlight the imperative for unwavering compliance with judicial standards and accountability within the Nigerian legal system.
Justice A. O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos received a cautionary letter following a petition from Kasali Azeez Olagoke and S. Hamza in Suit No. FHC/CS/2021, involving Chief Adesanya Musediku against the Assistant General of Police, Onikan, Zone 2. The petition against Justice Othman A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory is currently on hold, awaiting the Court of Appeal’s decision related to Suit No. FCT/HS/BW/2274/15.
It also said that the petition against Justice C. N. Mbonu Nwenyi of the High Court of Anambra State by one Prof. Paul C. Obianaso was discountenanced after investigation revealed that there was no misconduct on the part of His judge.
Another petition against Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2015 was put in abeyance pending the outcome of the appeal before the Court of Appeal.
The NJC also said that it discountenanced a petition by Mrs Adaku Amadi against Hon. Justice R. B. Haastrup of the National Industrial Court, as the Petitioner withdrew her complaints.
The statement said, ‘‘Council equally considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which contained a total number of 43 petitions.
Nine committees have been set up to look into eleven petitions, while twenty-nine other petitions were dismissed because they did not have enough merit. Three petitions involving judges from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and the National Industrial Court have been put on hold.
These petitions were submitted by three individuals, and the final decisions on them will depend on what the Court of Appeal decides.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) reviewed a petition from Mahmud Aliyu, who raised concerns about how three judges were appointed to the High Court of Zamfara State. He claimed that the selection process in 2022 was not transparent and involved favoritism, as well as violations of the NJC’s appointment guidelines.
Aliyu argued that the Chairman of the Zamfara State Judicial Service Commission selected the judges without following fair procedures. However, after discussing the committee’s findings, the NJC concluded that Aliyu had a personal interest in the appointments but was not chosen as a candidate. They found his allegations to be mostly untrue. Due to his spreading of false information about other candidates, it was decided he won’t be allowed to participate in future judge selection processes.
Abdullahi Liman made a formal request to look into how six judges were chosen for the Federal High Court in 2021, but the council found that he submitted his complaint too late. According to the rules, any complaints must be made within six months of the event, but Liman submitted his concerns on January 22, 2025.
The council also looked into a complaint made by Monday Adjeh about issues with the Oyo State Judicial Service Commission, but decided it was no longer important because of recent changes. They accepted the retirement of Justice Babatunde Ahmed Ademola Bakre and agreed to change the name of Hon. Justice I. A. Osayande, who will now be called Hon. Justice I. A. Dika in the Edo State High Court. In a significant decision, the council announced that in the future, the names of people being considered for judge positions in higher courts will be made public. This way, the community can give feedback and share any concerns about the candidates’ honesty and abilities. This change aims to promote openness and involve the public in the selection process.
