The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the elevation of 12 judges to the Court of Appeal as part of efforts to strengthen the judiciary and fill vacancies created by retirements and previous elevations.
The recommendation was made during the Council’s 111th meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and has been forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for approval.
According to a statement issued by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the judges recommended for elevation are Justices Emeka Nwite, James Kolawole Omotosho, Yakubu Mohammed, Abodunde Oluwatoyin, Ajuwa Raphael, Abua Ojie, Ijohor Jennifer, Shuaibu Bala, Buba Njane, Kado Sanusi, Ademola Enikuomehin and Dadom Veronica.
The Council also recommended the appointment of Christine Ende as a Judge of the High Court of Benue State, alongside two nominees for appointment as Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal in Katsina State.
The NJC stated that the appointments are aimed at enhancing judicial efficiency and improving justice delivery across the country.
In a related development, the Council extended the tenure of Justice Ijeoma Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State for an additional three months, effective March 26 to June 26, 2026, pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge.
The Council commended Justice Ononeze-Madu for declining to be sworn in in violation of constitutional procedures, describing the decision as a demonstration of institutional integrity and respect for the rule of law.
The NJC also urged the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to expedite the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge to ensure stability and preserve judicial independence in the state.
On disciplinary matters, the Council rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary seeking a reversal of their compulsory retirement over allegations of age falsification.
The affected judicial officers were among 10 judges earlier recommended for compulsory retirement during the Council’s 109th meeting held on June 25. According to the NJC, nine of the judges altered their dates of birth in official records to unlawfully extend their years of service, while Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as Acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in the hierarchy of judges, contrary to Section 271(4) of the Constitution.
The Council held that the judges failed to provide fresh evidence warranting a review of the sanctions imposed on them.
However, the NJC reinstated Hon. Justice T. I. Nze of the Customary Court of Appeal after new evidence presented before the review committee was confirmed to be authentic.
The Council also considered 13 petitions against judicial officers across the country. While eight petitions were dismissed for lacking merit, being time-barred, or not diligently prosecuted, sanctions were imposed on two judges.
Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State and Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory were both suspended for one year without pay over separate cases of judicial misconduct.
Justice Shekarau was found liable for misconduct relating to the grant of an ex parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from a petitioner’s bank account without due process. The NJC held that the judge acted in bad faith and failed to observe established judicial procedures.
Similarly, Justice Okpe was sanctioned over allegations of denial of fair hearing in a matrimonial dispute after granting an ex parte application and initiating committal proceedings without giving the affected party an opportunity to be heard.
The Council further resolved to refer Mbadiwe Ossai to the Inspector-General of Police for investigation and possible prosecution over alleged perjury.
Additionally, four legal practitioners — Adeboye Williams Adewale, Dr. Peter N. Ekemezie, Dr. Martin Odika and Muhammad Hamza Ahmad-Gana — were referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for allegedly filing frivolous petitions aimed at harassing judicial officers.
The NJC also barred a serial petitioner, Yusuf Isa, from submitting further petitions to the Council.
Meanwhile, the Council reaffirmed that the Nigerian Constitution does not prohibit retired public servants from being appointed as judicial officers.
Under the newly adopted policy, retired public servants seeking judicial appointment must have at least 10 years remaining before the mandatory retirement age, disclose any criminal convictions, provide full employment history, declare existing employment obligations, and disclose their financial status, including any instances of financial embarrassment.
