Catherine Christopher, Director of Information at the Federal High Court, noted that all affected judges are expected to conclude and deliver any outstanding judgments at their current postings without delay.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has ordered the immediate redeployment of five judges across various judicial divisions.

This development was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday, indicating the judges affected by the reassignment.

Among those redeployed is Justice M.G. Umar, who moves from the Enugu Division to the Abuja Division. Justice Tijjani Garba Ringim has been relocated from Gombe to Yola, while Justice M.T. Segun-Bello, formerly stationed in Abakaliki, will now serve in Enugu. Justice Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman has been transferred from Yola to Awka, and Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, who previously served in Awka, has been posted to the Gombe Division.

Catherine Christopher, Director of Information at the Federal High Court, noted that all affected judges are expected to conclude and deliver any outstanding judgments at their current postings without delay.

She further explained that judges in the Abakaliki and Katsina Divisions will temporarily oversee all pending and new matters in those jurisdictions until new assignments are announced.

Christopher also assured legal practitioners and litigants that there would be no disruptions to ongoing proceedings in Justice Inyang Ekwo’s courtroom.

The court announced that all cases formerly presided over by Justice Ekwo, who was suspended for one year on April 30, 2025, and placed on a five-year watchlist, had been reassigned to Justice M.G. Umar.

Justice Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja was suspended for ruling on a pending application without hearing the parties involved, thereby prematurely dismissing criminal charges.

"The conduct of Hon. Justice Ekwo violates Rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct," the Council stated in April.

He was placed on a five-year watch list and barred from future elevation.

Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division, was also suspended and placed on a three-year watch-list.

In a suit between the Government of Zamfara State and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he was found to have restrained security agencies from carrying out lawful duties.

The NJC condemned his failure to uphold stare decisis, the legal doctrine of respecting precedent.

In a milder disciplinary action, Justice A. O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, received a letter of caution over a complaint regarding a suit involving Chief Adesanya Musediku and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2.

The Council also announced that it had empanelled nine committees to investigate 27 judicial officers facing various petitions.

However, 43 petitions were reviewed, 29 dismissed for lacking merit, while others were deferred pending court outcomes.

One such petition involved Mahmud Aliyu, who challenged the 2022 judicial appointment process in Zamfara State.

The NJC ruled that Aliyu's claims were "unsubstantiated and substantially based on falsehood," and barred him from future participation in judicial selections.

A separate petition contesting the 2021 recruitment of six Federal High Court judges was also dismissed for violating the six-month filing deadline stipulated in Section 11(1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations.

Meanwhile, the NJC announced that future judicial appointments would involve public participation.

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