The National Judicial Council has recommended the appointment of 12 new justices to the Court of Appeal and suspended two judges for one year without pay over judicial misconduct.
The decisions were taken during the council’s 111th meeting held on May 13 under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Key Highlights:
- National Judicial Council recommended 12 new justices for the Court of Appeal.
- The council suspended two judges for one year without pay over judicial misconduct.
- Ibrahim D. Shekarau and Edward A.E. Okpe were sanctioned over improper ex parte orders.
- The NJC upheld the retirement of eight judges from Imo State over alleged age falsification.
- The council also dismissed 73 petitions against judicial officers.
In a statement issued on Friday by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the council said the appointments were intended to fill vacancies arising from the retirement and elevation of judicial officers, while also strengthening the judiciary for improved justice delivery.
The judges recommended for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal are 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.
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The council also recommended Christine T. Clement Ende for appointment as a judge of the Benue State High Court, while Ibrahim Abdullahi Yakubu and Bala Salisu Daura were recommended as Kadis of the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal.
According to the NJC, the consideration of Yakubu and Daura had initially been suspended following a petition challenging their eligibility on the grounds that they were retired public servants.
However, the council later ruled that the Nigerian Constitution does not bar retired public officers from being appointed to judicial positions.
The council stated that its decision was supported by the Court of Appeal judgment in Ayoola v. Baruwa (1999), which held that retired legal practitioners remain eligible for judicial appointments.
Under a newly introduced policy, the NJC said retired public servants seeking judicial appointments must still have at least 10 years remaining before reaching the mandatory retirement age for judges.
The council also extended the appointment of Ijeoma O. Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State for another three months to allow the completion of the process for appointing a substantive chief judge.
On disciplinary matters, the NJC dismissed appeals filed by eight judges from Imo State who were compulsorily retired over allegations of age falsification, noting that they failed to provide fresh evidence to support their appeals.
However, the council reinstated T.I. Nze after reviewing new evidence presented before its investigative committee.
The NJC further suspended Ibrahim D. Shekarau for one year without salary over what it described as judicial misconduct involving the granting of an ex parte order without following due process.
Similarly, Edward A.E. Okpe was suspended for one year without pay after the council found that he granted an ex parte application that resulted in committal proceedings against a petitioner without giving the affected individual an opportunity to be heard.
The council also disclosed that it dismissed 73 petitions against judicial officers for lacking merit, failure of diligent prosecution or being statute-barred, while 11 petitions were slated for further investigation.
In addition, the NJC commended nine judges for outstanding performance during the 2024 and 2025 legal years and approved the issuance of 256 advisory letters to judicial officers on performance-related matters.
