The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dropped 34 judicial nominees, including a serving chief superintendent of police, after they failed the integrity screening introduced for judicial appointments.
Announcing the outcome in Abuja on Sunday, the NJC revealed that although 62 candidates scaled through the Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted by the Federal High Court, only 28 survived the final phase after a public-feedback-based integrity test by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
The exercise is the first to be conducted under the new integrity policy introduced by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, which invites members of the public to submit petitions or commendations on shortlisted judicial hopefuls before approval.
“Sixty-two applicants passed the CBT conducted by the Federal High Court. Their names were forwarded to the FJSC, which published the list on September 17, 2025, to invite public feedback on integrity, reputation and suitability for judicial appointment,” the NJC stated.
Among those who failed the screening is a serving senior police officer whose candidacy was reportedly derailed by a petition accusing her of soliciting bribes, while serving as officer-in-charge of the legal section of the Zone 7 Police Command, Abuja.
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The petition, addressed to the FJSC by a legal practitioner on behalf of a client, alleged that the officer ordered the arrest of their client without a warrant on January 16, 2025, and subsequently demanded a N1 million payment before granting bail.
The petitioner further alleged that the payment was made through a proxy linked to the police officer, and that the Police Service Commission panel set up to investigate the complaint traced the funds to the officer’s account.
“Her integrity is totally compromised by her love for taking bribes,” the petition read in part, insisting that the officer lacked the ethical standing expected of a Federal High Court judge.
The screening outcome marks the first major shake-up for judicial appointments since Justice Kekere-Ekun assumed office, with analysts suggesting it could redefine public confidence in Nigeria’s judicial leadership.
