The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the elevation of 12 justices to the Court of Appeal.
At its 111th meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Council made the recommendation to President Bola Tinubu.
A statement signed by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, disclosed that those recommended for elevation are Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice James Kolawole Omotosho, Justice Yakubu Mohammed, Justice Abodunde Oluwatoyin, and Justice Ajuwa Raphael.
Others are Justice Abua Ojie, Justice Ijohor Jennifer, Justice Shuaibu Bala, Justice Buba Njane, Justice Kado Sanusi, Justice Ademola Enikuomehin, and Justice Dadom Veronica.
The Council also recommended the appointment of Christine Ende as a judge of the High Court of Benue State and two others for appointment as Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State.
According to the statement, the recommendations are intended 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.
The NJC also extended the appointment of Justice Ijeoma Agugua as the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State for a further period of three months, from March 26, 2026, to June 26, 2026, to allow for the completion of the process of appointing a substantive Chief Judge.
The Council commended Justice 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.
It reiterated its call on the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to expedite the process of appointing a substantive Chief Judge to ensure stability, safeguard judicial independence, and enhance the effective administration of justice in the state.
On disciplinary matters, the NJC rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State judiciary seeking a reversal of their compulsory retirement from service over age falsification.
The affected judges were among 10 judicial officers recommended for compulsory retirement at the Council’s 109th meeting held on June 25, 2025.
Nine of them were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to unlawfully extend their years in 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 affected judges failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.
However, the Council reinstated Hon. Justice T. I. Nze of the Customary Court of Appeal after he presented new evidence to the review committee, which was found to be authentic.
After considering 13 investigation reports on petitions filed against judicial officers across the country over the handling of cases before them, the NJC dismissed eight petitions for lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution, or being time-barred.
However, sanctions, including a one-year suspension without pay, were imposed on 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.
While Justice Shekarau was found liable for judicial misconduct involving the grant of an ex parte order in breach of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016, Justice Okpe was suspended for one year without pay over allegations of breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case.
The petitioner, Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma, alleged that Justice Shekarau granted an ex parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from her bank account to a third party as a purported reversal of funds.
She contended that the ex parte application was filed, heard, and granted on the same day without any substantive suit pending before the court, and that the order wrongly implied her involvement in fraud despite her not being charged or made a party to the proceedings.
She further alleged that the judge failed to verify the alleged erroneous transfer before making the order, thereby amounting to judicial misconduct.
The committee found that the judge acted in bad faith, failed to observe due process, and demonstrated a lack of professional competence.
Similarly, the Council suspended Justice Okpe following a petition filed by Mr. Sunday Emmanuel Oso, who accused the judge of bias and denial of fair hearing in a suit between Lateefat Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso.
In the petition, Oso alleged that although he was served hearing notices fixing the matter for September 19, 2024, the court heard and granted an ex parte application on September 17, 2024, without notice to him.
He further alleged that when the matter later came up, the judge declined to hear the Motion on Notice and instead entertained committal proceedings against him based on alleged disobedience of the earlier ex parte order.
The committee found that Justice Okpe granted an ex parte application that led to committal proceedings against the petitioner without affording him the opportunity to be heard, contrary to Rule 3.3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
The NJC also resolved to refer one Mbadiwe Ossai to the Inspector-General of Police for investigation and prosecution over alleged perjury.
Similarly, Adeboye Williams Adewale, Esq.; Dr. Peter N. Ekemezie, Esq.; Dr. Martin Odika, Esq.; and Muhammad Hamza Ahmad-Gana, Esq., were referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for allegedly writing frivolous and unsubstantiated petitions calculated to harass and intimidate judicial officers.
In a related development, one Yusuf Isa, described as a serial petitioner, was barred from further presenting petitions to the Council.
The NJC also reaffirmed that the Constitution of Nigeria does not prohibit retired public servants from judicial appointments.
Under the newly adopted policy:
- A retired public servant must have a minimum of 10 years remaining in service before attaining the mandatory judicial retirement age.
- Prospective candidates must disclose any criminal conviction.
- Candidates must provide full employment history and reasons for leaving previous employment.
- Candidates must declare existing employment obligations; and
- Candidates must disclose their financial status, including any circumstances of financial embarrassment.
