Additionally, the NJC has recommended Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq. to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointment as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has announced major judicial appointments and disciplinary actions following its 109th Meeting held on June 25, 2025, and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Kemi Babalola Ogedengbe, Deputy Director of Information at the NJC, the Council recommended Hon. Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye for appointment as Chief Judge of Ekiti State and Hon. Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Kadi of Yobe State.

Additionally, the NJC has recommended Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, Esq. to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointment as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

These recommendations came after a rigorous vetting process, including public input and interviews conducted by an 8-member Interview Committee, in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.

New Judicial Appointments

The NJC further recommended the appointment of 18 Judges across various jurisdictions in Nigeria as follows: Cross River State – High Court: Edu, Glory Bassey, Irem, Melody Bassey; Ogun State – High Court: Ojikutu, Adebayo Julius, Adewole, Adejumoke Oluwatoyin, Adebo, Oluyemisi Olukemi; Zamfara State – High Court: Garba, Sirajo Aliyu, Bashir, Rabi, Abdullahi, Nasiru; Zamfara State – Sharia Court of Appeal: Ibrahim, Jibril, Muhammed, Sanusi Magami, Shaa’ban, Mansur; Plateau State – Sharia Court of Appeal: Badamasi, Kabir Adam; Ebonyi State – Customary Court of Appeal: Ogodo, Lynda Nneka; Katsina State – High Court: Dikko, Fadila Muhammad, Abdulrahman, Shamsudden Yammama, Abdullahi, Maryham Umaru, and Mohammed, Abubakar Dikko.

Public Response and Complaints

This wave of appointments follows a public call for input issued during the NJC’s 108th Meeting held on April 29–30, 2025. Of the 86 responses received, 73 were favourable while 13 raised concerns. However, five of the adverse submissions lacked verifying affidavits and were thus dismissed.

Complaints relating to appointments in Plateau and Kano States, as well as the Sharia Courts of Zamfara and Katsina, were assessed. Of these, four were found to lack merit, while one candidate was dropped due to substantiated allegations.

Voluntary Retirements

The Council approved the voluntary retirement of Hon. Justice Babatunde Ademola Bakre (Ogun State High Court) and Hon. Justice H. O. Ajayi (Kwara State High Court).

Disciplinary Actions in Imo Judiciary

In a significant disciplinary decision, the NJC recommended the compulsory retirement of 10 Judges in the Imo State Judiciary. Nine of the Judges were found to have falsified their dates of birth to prolong their tenure, while one—Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu—was sanctioned for allowing himself to be sworn in as Acting Chief Judge in violation of constitutional hierarchy.

The Judges affected by age falsification are: High Court: Hon. Justice M. E. Nwagboso; Hon. Justice B. C. Iheka; Hon. Justice K. A. Leaweanya; Hon. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, and Hon. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi; and in the Customary Court of Appeal: Hon. Justice Tennyson Nze; Hon. Justice Ofoha Uchenna; Hon. Justice Everyman Eleanya and Hon. Justice Rosemond Ibe.

Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu was also sanctioned for presenting himself as Acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in judicial seniority—a move the NJC described as a clear violation of Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

The NJC absolved Hon. Justice V. U. Okorie, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, who had chaired the Judicial Service Commission that recommended Nzeukwu’s appointment, but was on record as dissenting.

The Council reiterated its directive to Governor Hope Uzodinma to swear in the most senior Judge of the Imo State Judiciary as Acting Chief Judge.

After investigating 18 Judges from the Imo Judiciary, the Council dismissed allegations against: Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua, Hon. Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu and Hon. Justice L. C. Azuama.

It also cleared the following Judges, who provided satisfactory explanations for discrepancies or whose records reflected corrections made to their disadvantage: Hon. Justice Vincent I. Onyeka, Hon. Justice Vivian O. B. Ekezie, Hon. Justice P. U. Nnodum, Hon. Justice Alma Ngozi Eluwa, Hon. Justice Matthew Chinedu Ijezie and Hon. Justice Ononogbo Chidi Linus.

Disciplinary Action Against Industrial Court Judge

The Council barred Hon. Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court from being considered for elevation to a higher bench for three years. He was found guilty of misconduct in a case involving over ₦1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government and Local Government Councils. Despite pending appeals and a stay application, he ordered the confiscation of the funds and remained on the case even after complaints of bias.

Essien, a former staff of Nasarawa State University with unresolved gratuity issues, had previously demanded payment on court letterhead—a serious breach. He was also faulted for personally visiting the Court of Appeal registry to verify if an appeal had been filed.

The NJC considered 30 petitions against various Judges, empanelled four Committees for further investigation, and took some actions.

It cautioned Hon. Justice Rahman A. Oshodi – misuse of discretion in Suit No. ID/232/53C/23; Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa (Chief Judge, Edo State) – abuse of discretion in Suit No. B1/555/2020 and Hon. Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark (Federal High Court) – delayed judgment beyond 90 days.

It issued a final warning to Hon. Justice G. B. Okolosi (Delta State High Court) for continued flouting of Section 294 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Benue Chief Judge Cleared, State Attorney-General to Face LPDC

The NJC also cleared Hon. Justice M. A. Ikpambese, Chief Judge of Benue State, of all allegations brought by the State Attorney-General Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, Guana Benjamin Joseph, Esq., and Terhemen Ngbea. The Council found the petitions unmeritorious and politically motivated.

The NJC, however, condemned the conduct of Attorney-General Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim and resolved to report him to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for instigating the campaign to oust the Chief Judge.

Dismissed Petitions

The Council dismissed petitions against the following Judges: Hon. Justice A. M. Liman (Federal High Court, Kano), Hon. Justice S. A. Amobeda, Hon. Justice Muhammad Auwal Haruna, and Hon. Justice Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako.

The joint petition against Justices Liman and Amobeda and the petition against Justice Haruna were withdrawn, while the one against Justice Nyako was found to lack merit.

Further action on petitions against Justice A. M. Liman (by Kenneth Okere in a separate case) and Justice Yusuf Halilu (FCT High Court) was suspended as the matters are sub judice.

In a final move, the NJC blacklisted one Peter N. Ekemezie, describing him as a serial petitioner, and barred him from submitting any further complaints to the Council.

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