WorldStage— The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three senior judicial officers for one year without pay following findings of judicial misconduct, unlawful detention of litigants, and abuse of power.
Announced by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the sweeping disciplinary measures target Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir (Nasarawa State High Court), Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu (Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal), and Justice Sobere Biambo (Rivers State High Court).
In addition to losing their salaries for a year, all three are barred from being elevated to higher courts for three years.
Justice Kabir was penalized for detaining a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings.
Justice Biambo faced sanctions for arbitrarily arresting litigants and imposing unauthorized ₦300,000 fines during a civil dispute, while Grand Kadi Salihu was disciplined for procedural misconduct and abuse of office.
Beyond these suspensions, the NJC issued warnings and placed eight other judges on watchlists for delayed judgments and chamber mishandling.
Civil rights groups and legal analysts have lauded the move as a vital effort to uphold judicial accountability and protect citizens’ rights.
