The National Judicial Council (NJC) has announced a series of sweeping decisions following its 109th meeting held on June 25, 2025, and chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. These include the recommendation of 21 judicial officers for appointment, the compulsory retirement of 10 Judges in Imo State over age falsification, disciplinary actions against several others, and the reaffirmation of standards in judicial accountability.
New Appointments Across Nigeria’s Judiciary
The NJC has recommended two judges as Heads of Courts:
Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye (Chief Judge, Ekiti State)
Kadi Abba Mammadi (Grand Kadi, Yobe State)
Additionally, Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar was recommended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Recommendations also cover High Court, Customary Court, and Sharia Court appointments across Cross River, Ogun, Zamfara, Katsina, Plateau, and Ebonyi States, with emphasis on merit-based selections and adherence to the 2023 Revised NJC Appointment Guidelines.
Crackdown on Age Falsification and Judicial Misconduct
A major highlight of the Council’s meeting was the compulsory retirement of 10 Judges in Imo State, including five from the High Court and four from the Customary Court of Appeal, for falsifying their dates of birth to extend tenure. Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was also sanctioned for accepting an acting Chief Judge position despite not being the most senior.
In response, the NJC reiterated its directive to the Governor of Imo State to swear in the most senior judicial officer as Acting Chief Judge, in line with constitutional provisions.
Judges Cleared and Sanctioned
Nine other judges in Imo were exonerated after investigations found no irregularities in their records or accepted justifications for earlier discrepancies. The NJC also issued warnings and final cautions to five other judges for various forms of judicial misconduct, ranging from delayed judgments to abuse of discretion.
Barred from Promotion and Public Reprimand
Justice Isaac Essien of the National Industrial Court was barred from elevation for three years for misconduct in a case involving over ₦1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government. His actions, which included continued adjudication despite conflicts of interest and ignoring pending appeals, were deemed unethical and a violation of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
Petitions Reviewed and Actions Taken
The NJC considered 30 new petitions, dismissed some for lacking merit, and empaneled committees for further investigations into others. It also cleared Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice M.A. Ikpambese, of all allegations, while raising concern over attempts by the State Attorney-General to influence judicial outcomes. The Attorney-General has been referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for disciplinary review.
NJC Upholds Transparency and Public Participation
This meeting marks the second implementation of the NJC’s policy to publish shortlisted names and invite public input. Of the 86 comments received, 85% supported the appointments, reflecting growing public interest in judicial accountability.
