…27 Others Being Investigated.

The National Judicial Council imposed a one-year suspension on three judicial officers on Wednesday, depriving them of their salaries and office perks. The judges are Justice Jane E. Inyang, Court of Appeal, Uyo Division; Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division; and Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division.

The Council also empanelled nine committees to investigate 27 other judicial officers for various allegations of misconduct.

These were some of the highlights from the Council’s meetings held on the 29th and 30th April 2025, as conveyed in a statement by the Deputy Director of Information of the NJC, Kemi Babalola, after the meeting.  

Acting tough on disciplinary matters in the judiciary, the NJC also asked the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for presiding over the JSC meeting that recommended the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State contrary to the provision of the Constitution while directing Governor Hope Uzodimma to reverse the appointment.

It also wants the Acting Chief Judge to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for accepting to serve as the Acting Chief Judge of the State.

According to the Deputy Director of Information of the NJC, Kemi Babalola, after the meeting, the NJC dismissed 29 petitions and issued a letter of caution to a Federal High Court Judge.

The NJC has endorsed that the appointment of judicial officers henceforth will be open to public scrutiny while directing the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to appoint the most senior judicial officer in the hierarchy of the State High Court as the acting Chief Judge of the State in conformity with Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The NJC meeting, which was chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, resolved that the constitutional provision on the appointment of an acting Chief Judge of a State does not give room for discretion. Section 271(4) of the Constitution provides:

It said, “If the office of the Chief Judge of a State is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the Governor shall appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court to perform those functions.”

The Council also resolved that Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu should be issued a query to show cause within seven days as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for presenting himself to be sworn in as the acting Chief Judge of Imo State.

The President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, Hon. Justice V. U. Okorie, “who acted as Interim Chairman of Imo State Judicial Service Commission and recommended the appointment of Justice Nzeukwu, is required to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for his complicity in the recommendation.

Specifically, in its resolution, the Council suspends Justice Jane E. Inyang, Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, for one year without pay, as the Investigation Committee found His Lordship to have breached Rule 3 of the Revised

‘Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers. Justice Jane E. Inyang was found to have abused his office by issuing inappropriate ex parte orders for the sale of Hon. Udemesset’s petrol station and other businesses at the interlocutory stage of the case.’’

The act of judicial misconduct was said to have occurred while His Lordship presided over Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/46/2023 at the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division, before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

Furthermore, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, was also placed on suspension for one year without pay, placed on a watch list for five years, and barred from elevation for five years as well.

The complaints against Justice Ekwo arose from Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, wherein His Lordship delivered a ruling in a pending application without hearing the parties.

He ignored an application to set aside the court’s proceedings in the absence of the parties. He delivered a ruling dismissing the case against the defendants.

‘Consequently, His Lordship was found to have violated Rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

The Council also suspended Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division, for a period of one year without pay for judicial misconduct in breach of Rules 3 (1) and 5 of the 2016 Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers. The Council also placed him on a three-year watch list, barring him from elevation during this period.

The Council found Justice Baffa liable for judicial misconduct in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/30/2021, the Government of Zamfara State vs EFCC. He was faulted for granting an order restraining security agencies from carrying out their statutory duties and disregarding the doctrine of stare decisis in the adjudication of the case.

The Council also issued a letter of caution to Justice A. O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, in a petition filed by one Kasali Azeez Olagoke and S. Hamza in Suit No. FHC/CS/2021 between Chief Adesanya Musediku and Assistant General of Police, Onikan, Zone 2.

The petition against Justice Othman A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory was put in abeyance pending the outcome of the decision of the Court of Appeal arising from 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 this 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 disapproved of 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.

‘’The NJC empanelled nine committees for further investigation of 11 petitions, dismissing 29 for lack of merit. Three petitions against Hon. Justice Abubakar Babashani of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Justice Isaac Essien of the National Industrial Court, and Hon. Justice A. O. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, by Henry Chinweike Okoro, Ikemefuna Stephen Nwoye, Esq., and Lassborn Chichebem Orjiugo, respectively, were put in abeyance pending the decisions of the Court of Appeal.

The NJC also considered a petition by Mahmud Aliyu against the appointment of three judges to the High Court of Zamfara State.

The petitioner complained that the exercise conducted in 2022 by the Zamfara State Judicial Service Commission, which led to the emergence of shortlisted candidates, was not transparent and was characterised by nepotism, highhandedness, and non-compliance with Rules 4, 5, and 6 of the NJC’s guidelines for the appointment of judicial officers in 2014.

He also alleged that the nominees were unilaterally picked by the Chairman of the Zamfara State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in disregard of the NJC guidelines on merit-based assessment.

Council, however, deliberated on its committee’s findings on the petition and resolved that the petitioner was an interested party who had indicated interest but was not selected as a candidate.

The council noted that the petitioner’s allegations were unsubstantiated and substantially based on falsehood. It, therefore, resolved that the petitioner, who was a candidate for judicial appointment and intentionally peddled falsehoods against another aspiring judicial officer, will be barred from participation in any future exercise.

In a request to investigate the hiring process for six Federal High Court Judges in 2021 by Abdullahi Liman, the council pointed out that the request broke the rules in Section 11(1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations, which say that a complaint must be made within six months of the event, but the petitioner submitted his complaints on January 22, 2025.

It also resolved that a petition on the unconstitutional composition of the Oyo State Judicial Service Commission written by Monday Adjeh has been overtaken by events.

The council also accepted the voluntary retirement of Justice Babatunde Ahmed Ademola Bakre and approved the notification of the change of name of Hon. Justice I. A. Osayande to Hon. Justice I. A. Dika of the Edo State High Court.

Council at the meeting finally resolved that henceforth, the names of candidates being considered for appointment as judicial officers to the Superior Courts of Records will be published for information and comments by the public.

‘’The primary objective of this initiative is to solicit comments from the public where there is objection to the integrity, reputation and competence of the candidates by opening the process to public participation and scrutiny,’’ it said.

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