NJC recommends 12 Appeal Court justices, suspends two judges

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The National Judicial Council has recommended the appointment of 12 new justices for the Court of Appeal and suspended two judges for one year without pay over judicial misconduct.

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The decisions were reached at the council’s 111th meeting held on May 13 under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

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In a statement issued on Thursday by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the NJC said the appointments were aimed “to fill vacancies arising from the elevation and retirement of Judicial Officers across various levels of the Judiciary and to strengthen the capacity of courts for effective justice delivery.”

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The council recommended Yakubu Abdulhammeed Mohammed, Monisola Oluwatoyin Abodunde, Raphael Ajuwa, Elias Ojie Abua, Mbalamen Jennifer Ijohor, Sabiu Bala Shuaibu, James Kolawole Omotosho, Emeka Nwite, Dauda Njane Buba, Sanusi Kado, Enikuomehin Ademola and Julcit Veronica Dadom as new Justices of the Court of Appeal.

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It also recommended Christine T. Clement Ende as judge of the Benue State High Court, alongside Ibrahim Abdullahi Yakubu and Bala Salisu Daura as Kadis of the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal.

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The NJC said the consideration of Yakubu and Daura was initially stepped down following a petition challenging their eligibility due to their retirement from public service, but the council later concluded that “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) does not prohibit retired public servants from judicial appointment.”

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The council added that its position was guided by the Court of Appeal decision in Ayoola v. Baruwa (1999), which held that “no constitutional provision precludes a retired legal practitioner from appointment to the Bench.”

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Under a newly adopted policy, the NJC said retired public servants seeking judicial appointments must have “a minimum of ten years remaining in service before attaining the mandatory judicial retirement age.”

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The council also extended the appointment of Ijeoma O. Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State for another three months to allow completion of the process for appointing a substantive chief judge.

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The NJC commended Ononeze-Madu for declining to be sworn in contrary to established constitutional procedure, describing the action as “a demonstration of institutional integrity and respect for the rule of law.”

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On disciplinary matters, the NJC rejected appeals filed by eight Imo judges compulsorily retired over age falsification, saying the judges “failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.”

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However, the council reinstated T. I. Nze after he presented new evidence to the review committee.

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The NJC also suspended Ibrahim D. Shekarau for one year without pay over what it described as “judicial misconduct involving the grant of an ex parte order.”

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According to the statement, the committee found that the judge “acted in bad faith, failed to observe due process and demonstrated a lack of professional competence.”

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Similarly, Edward A. E. Okpe was suspended for one year without pay after the council found that he “granted an ex parte application that led to committal proceedings against the petitioner without affording him the opportunity to be heard.”

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The NJC further disclosed that it dismissed 73 petitions against judicial officers for “lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution or for being time-barred,” while 11 petitions were recommended for further investigation.

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The council also said it commended nine judges for exemplary performance during the 2024 and 2025 legal years and approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers over performance-related matters.

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