Nigeria’s most powerful judicial oversight body has recommended the appointment of 12 new justices to the Court of Appeal and handed year-long suspensions without pay to two judges found guilty of misconduct, in a sweeping set of resolutions that underscore the National Judicial Council’s intensifying scrutiny of the country’s bench.
The decisions were reached at the NJC’s 111th plenary meeting on 13 May, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. In a statement released by its deputy director of information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the council said the new appointments were intended to fill gaps left by the elevation and retirement of judicial officers and “to strengthen the capacity of courts for effective justice delivery.”
The 12 nominees recommended for elevation to the Court of Appeal are Yakubu Mohammed, Monisola Abodunde, Raphael Ajuwa, Elias Abua, Mbalamen Ijohor, Sabiu Shuaibu, James Omotosho, Emeka Nwite, Dauda Buba, Sanusi Kado, Enikuomehin Ademola and Julcit Dadom.
The council separately recommended Christine Ende for appointment to the Benue State High Court, and cleared Ibrahim Yakubu and Bala Daura as Kadis of the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal — though not without controversy. Their candidacies had initially been set aside following a petition challenging their eligibility on the grounds that they had retired from public service. The NJC ultimately ruled that Nigeria’s 1999 constitution, as amended, contains no provision barring retired public servants from judicial appointment, citing the Court of Appeal’s ruling in Ayoola v. Baruwa (1999). Going forward, the council said such candidates must have at least 10 years of remaining service before reaching the mandatory judicial retirement age.
Misconduct and discipline
On the disciplinary front, the council suspended Justice Ibrahim Shekarau for one year without pay after finding that he had acted in bad faith, failed to observe due process and demonstrated a lack of professional competence in the granting of an ex parte order. Justice Edward A. E. Okpe received an identical penalty after the council determined he had granted an ex parte application that resulted in committal proceedings against a petitioner who was never given the opportunity to be heard — a fundamental breach of natural justice.
The NJC also rejected appeals brought by eight Imo State judges who had previously been compulsorily retired over allegations of age falsification. The council found the judges had failed to produce fresh evidence capable of overturning the original sanctions. However, one judge, T. I. Nze, was reinstated after presenting new evidence to the review committee.
Separately, the council extended by three months the acting appointment of Ijeoma Agugua as chief judge of Imo State to allow time for the appointment of a substantive replacement.
A broader accountability push
The NJC dismissed 73 petitions against judicial officers, citing lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution, or time bar, while referring 11 others for further investigation. It also approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers over performance-related concerns, and commended nine judges for exemplary conduct during the 2024 and 2025 legal years.
In an unusual commendation, the council praised a judicial officer identified only as Ononeze-Madu for declining to be sworn in outside established constitutional procedure — describing the refusal as “a demonstration of institutional integrity and respect for the rule of law.”
