The National Judicial Council (NJC) has imposed a one-year suspension on three judges, Justices Hannatu Mohammed Kabir, Mohammed Sani Salihu and Sobere Biambo, following findings of judicial misconduct, while six others have been placed on a watchlist.
The disciplinary decisions, announced on Wednesday night, November 4, followed the Council's 112th meeting held on November 3 under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Two of the suspended judges were also barred from promotion for three years, while the Council cautioned another judge over alleged irregularities in the handling of a post-judgment dispute involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The NJC equally disclosed that it had dismissed 24 petitions containing various allegations against judicial officers nationwide, approved 28 appointments and recommended four petitions for further investigation.
The decisions were made public in a statement signed by the Council's Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
One of the judges affected by the disciplinary measures is Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court, who was suspended without pay for one year for ordering the detention of a litigant for 58 days without following the prescribed legal procedures.
The NJC investigation found that the judge ordered the litigant's arrest and detention over alleged disobedience of court orders without issuing and serving Forms 48 and 49, which are mandatory requirements in contempt proceedings.
The committee further established that the alleged contempt was committed outside the court's presence and could not, therefore, be summarily tried and punished.
It also found that the prolonged detention violated the litigant's right to fair hearing.
Beyond the suspension, the Council barred Kabir from promotion for three years.
The second judge sanctioned was Mohammed Sani Salihu, Grand Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal, who was suspended without pay for one year for exceeding his judicial authority in a case involving a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.
According to the NJC, Salihu constituted a committee to review the judgment and subsequently assigned the matter to a Higher Sharia Court judge, who admitted fresh evidence and delivered another judgment.
The investigation committee held that the Grand Kadi had effectively reopened and reviewed a valid judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, an action it considered an improper exercise of appellate powers.
The subsequent judgment was later set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.
The Council also determined that Salihu's conduct breached Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016.
As part of the measures arising from the suspension, the NJC directed the most senior Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal to take over the functions of the Grand Kadi for the duration of the sanction.
Also affected is Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court, who was suspended after an investigation found that he issued bench warrants and imposed financial penalties on litigants in a civil matter without complying with due process.
The NJC found that Biambo ordered the arrest of the petitioners for allegedly disobeying an interim injunction and subsequently fined each of them N300,000.
However, the judge was found to have taken the action without commencing contempt proceedings or serving the required Forms 48 and 49.
The committee maintained that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court's presence and should not have been summarily adjudicated.
In another case, the Council 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 investigation committee found that Agunloye granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi on October 22, 2025, despite an earlier similar application having been withdrawn and struck out.
The decision was taken while other applications, including the bank's request for a stay of execution, were still pending and had been adjourned to November 4, 2025.
The NJC said the judge's action created room for justifiable suspicion.
Meanwhile, six other judicial officers were placed on the Council's watchlist and issued warnings following the consideration of petitions against them.
Among them was Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court, whose handling of the bail application involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, attracted the Council's attention.
The NJC found merit in a petition alleging that Kawu granted interim bail to Malami despite a subsisting remand order issued by another judge of the same court.
The Council also took a decision concerning the leadership of the Imo State judiciary, directing its Secretariat to formally write to the State Judicial Service Commission to include the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, among candidates for appointment as substantive Chief Judge.
The latest decisions reflect the NJC's disciplinary oversight of judicial officers and its position on compliance with established legal procedures, particularly in contempt proceedings, the exercise of judicial authority and the protection of litigants' rights.
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