The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended two judicial officers for one year without pay over misconduct, while issuing queries to 256 Judges over performance-related concerns, as part of measures aimed at strengthening accountability and efficiency within the Nigerian Judiciary. The decisions were reached at the Council’s 111th meeting chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON.
The Council also recommended the appointment of 12 new Justices of the Court of Appeal, to fill vacancies created by retirements and elevations across the appellate court. It further recommended one candidate for appointment as a Judge of the Benue State High Court, and two candidates as Kadis of the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal, to enhance justice delivery.
In addition, the NJC extended the appointment of Justice Ijeoma 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. The Council also reinstated Justice T. N. Nze of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal, after reviewing fresh evidence presented in his case.
The Council, however, rejected appeals filed by eight Judges of the Imo State Judiciary who had been compulsorily retired over age falsification. It held that the affected judicial officers failed to present fresh evidence, capable of justifying a reversal of the disciplinary action earlier taken against them.
