NJC suspends 3 federal Judges, dismisses some petitions against others
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Three federal Judges, one in Court of Appeal, two in High Court, have been suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for one year without pay over various acts of judicial misconduct.
The affected Judges are
- Jane Inyang – Court of Appeal, Uyo Division
- Inyang Ekwo – Federal High Court, Abuja Division
- Aminu Aliyu – Federal High Court, Zamfara Division
Inyang was suspended for breaching Rule 3 (5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, according to a statement issued by the NJC, per Daily Trust.
She was found to have abused her office by issuing inappropriate ex-parte orders in a case for the sale of Udeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at interlocutory stage of the case.
The act occurred while she adjudicated in suit No. FHC/UY/CS/46/2023 at the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
Ekwo was placed on suspension for one year without pay and on Watch-List for five years and also barred from elevation to higher court for five years.
The complaints against him arose from suit No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, wherein he delivered a ruling in a pending application without hearing the parties.
He also ignored an application to set aside the proceedings of the court conducted in the absence of the parties and proceeded to deliver a ruling in the case, an action which violates Rule 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
Aliyu was suspended because of his breach of Rule 3 (1) and 5 of the 2016 Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and placed on Watch-List for three years within which period he is barred from elevation.
He was found liable for act of judicial misconduct in suit No. FHC/GS/CS/30/2021, the Government of Zamfara State vs EFCC, wherein he granted an order restraining security agencies from carrying out their statutory duties and disregarded the doctrine of stare decisis in adjudication of the case.
The NJC issued a letter of caution to Judge A. O. Awogboro of Federal High Court, Lagos Division in a petition filed by Kasali Olagoke and S. Hamza over suit No. FHC/CS/2021 between Adesanya Musediku and Assistant Inspector General of Police, Onikan, Zone 2.
A petition filed against Judge Othman A. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court was put in abeyance pending the outcome of the decision of the Court of Appeal arising from suit No. FCT/HS/BW/2274/15.
Another petition against Judge I. E. Ekwo in suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2015 was put in abeyance pending the outcome of appeal before the Court of Appeal.
A petition against Judge C. N. Nwenyi of Anambra High Court by one Paul Obianaso was discountenanced after investigation revealed that there was no misconduct on the part of Nwenyi.
The NJC discountenanced a petition by Adaku Amadi against Judge R. B. Haastrup of the National Industrial Court (NIC) as Amadi withdrew her complaints.
The NJC considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which contained a total 43 petitions.
It empanelled nine committees to investigate pending complaints against 27 judicial officers for alleged acts of judicial misconduct while 29 petitions were dismissed for lacking in merit.
Three other petitions against Judges that were put in abeyance pending the decisions of the Court of Appeal involve:
- Abubakar Babashani – FCT High Court (filed by Henry Okoro)
- Isaac Essien – NIC (by Ikemefuna Nwoye)
- A. O. Musa – FCT High Court (by Lassborn Orjiugo)
The NJC considered a petition by one Mahmud Aliyu against the appointment of three Judges to the High Court of Zamfara.
Aliyu complained that the exercise conducted in 2022 by the Zamfara State Judicial Service Commission which led to shortlisted candidates was not transparent and was characterised by nepotism, high handedness and non-compliance with Rules 4, 5 and 6 of the NJC guidelines for the appointment of Judicial Officers 2014.
The NJC ruled “That the nominees were unilaterally picked by the Chairman of the Zamfara State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in disregard to the NJC guidelines on merit-based assessment.
“Council, however, deliberated on its Committee’s findings on the petition and resolved that the Petitioner was an interested party who had indicated interest but was not selected as a candidate.
“Council noted that the Petitioner’s allegations were unsubstantiated and substantially based on falsehood.
“It therefore, resolved that the Petitioner who was a candidate for judicial appointment and intentionally peddled falsehood against another aspiring Judicial Officer will be barred from participation in any future exercise.”
In a petition to probe the appointment of six Federal High Court Judges in 2021 by one Abdullahi Liman, the NJC noted that the petition violated Section 11 (1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations which stipulated that a complaint must be filed within six months of the occurrence of the event or matter complained of, whereas the Petitioner filed his complaints on 22 January 2025.
It also resolved that a petition on the unconstitutional composition of Oyo State Judicial Service Commission written by Monday Adjeh has been overtaken by events.
The NJC accepted the voluntary retirement of Judge Babatunde Bakre and approved the notification of change of name of Judge I. A. Osayande to Judge I. A. Dika of Edo High Court.
The NJC resolved that henceforth, the names of candidates being considered for appointment as Judicial Officers to Superior Courts of Record will be published for information and comments by the public.
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