From Victor Osula, Abuja
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judicial officers for one year without pay over acts of misconduct, including abuse of judicial authority, unlawful detention of litigants and violations of established judicial procedures.
Among those sanctioned is Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court, who was found to have ordered the arrest of litigants and imposed fines of ₦300,000 on each of them in a civil dispute without complying with the prescribed procedures for contempt proceedings.
The Council also barred Justice Biambo from nomination for elevation for three years.
The decisions were reached at the NJC’s 112th meeting, held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The Council’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, disclosed that the other judicial officers suspended were Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court and Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.
Justice Kabir was also barred from nomination for elevation for three years, while the sanctions against the three officers followed investigations into petitions alleging misconduct in the discharge of their judicial responsibilities.
The NJC found Justice Biambo culpable for ordering the arrest of litigants over alleged disobedience of an interim injunction and subsequently imposing a fine of ₦300,000 on each of them without instituting proper contempt proceedings or serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49.
The Council’s Investigation Committee held that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be tried and punished summarily. It found that the judge failed to comply with the prescribed procedures governing contempt proceedings before ordering the arrest and imposing the fines.
Similarly, Justice Kabir was suspended for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of a court order without initiating the required contempt proceedings.
According to the NJC, the judge failed to issue and serve the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 before ordering the litigant’s detention.
“The Investigation Committee found that she ordered the litigant’s arrest and detention for alleged disobedience of court orders without the issuance and service of the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or the institution of proper contempt proceedings”, the statement read.
The Council explained that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be dealt with through summary proceedings. It further held that the judge’s action violated the litigant’s right to a fair hearing, warranting her suspension and three-year restriction from elevation.
The third judicial officer, Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal, was suspended over his involvement in reopening a judgement delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.
The NJC’s Investigation Committee found that Salihu exceeded his authority by constituting a committee to review the judgment and subsequently assigning the matter to a Higher Sharia Court judge, who received fresh evidence and delivered another judgement.
The committee held that the procedure amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction. The fresh judgement was subsequently set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.
The Council also found that the Grand Kadi’s conduct violated Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016.
To ensure continuity in the administration of the court, the NJC directed the most senior Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal to perform the functions of the Grand Kadi throughout the period of suspension.
Beyond the suspensions, the Council placed six other judicial officers on its watchlist and issued warnings following investigations into petitions bordering on alleged misconduct.
Among those affected is Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court, against whom the Council found merit in a petition concerning his decision to grant interim bail to the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The NJC found that Justice Kawu granted the interim bail despite a subsisting remand order issued by another judge of the same court.
The Council also cautioned Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a suit involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
According to the statement, the Investigation Committee found that Justice Agunloye improperly entertained and granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi on October 22, 2025, after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out.
The development occurred while other pending applications, including the bank’s application for a stay of execution, had been adjourned to November 4, 2025.
The committee held that the judge’s action “created room for justifiable suspicion”.
The NJC also approved the issuance of warning letters to three judges following investigations into petitions concerning their conduct of judicial proceedings.
In addition, the Council disclosed that it dismissed 24 petitions containing various allegations against judicial officers across the country and recommended four petitions for further investigation. It also approved the appointment of 28 judicial officers.
In a separate decision concerning the Imo State judiciary, the Council directed its Secretariat to formally request the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the name of the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, among candidates for appointment as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.
