Judicial misconduct: NJC suspends 2 judges for one year without pay
The National Judicial Council has suspended two judges, Ibrahim D. Shekarau and Edward A. E. Okpe for one year without pay over what it described as “judicial misconduct.” Specifically, the council said Shekarau was suspended over an “ex parte order” he granted in a case, saying the judge was found to have “acted in bad […]
National Judicial Council NJC
The National Judicial Council has suspended two judges, Ibrahim D. Shekarau and Edward A. E. Okpe for one year without pay over what it described as “judicial misconduct.”
Specifically, the council said Shekarau was suspended over an “ex parte order” he granted in a case, saying the judge was found to have “acted in bad faith, and failed to observe due process and demonstrated a lack of professional competence.”
In the same vein, Okpe was suspended for one year without pay after the council found that he “granted an ex parte application that led to committal proceedings against the petitioner without affording him the opportunity to be heard.”
The NJC further disclosed that it dismissed 73 petitions against judicial officers for “lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution or for being time-barred,” while 11 petitions were recommended for further investigation.
These were part of the decisions reached at the council’s 111th meeting held on Wednesday, May 13 under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe in a statement, also disclosed that the council recommended 12 new justices for appointment at the Court of Appeal.
The council also recommended Christine T. Clement Ende as judge of the Benue State High Court, alongside Ibrahim Abdullahi Yakubu and Bala Salisu Daura as Kadis of the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal.
It explained that the appointments were aimed “to fill vacancies arising from the elevation and retirement of Judicial Officers across various levels of the Judiciary and to strengthen the capacity of courts for effective justice delivery.”
Those recommended include: Yakubu Abdulhammeed Mohammed, Monisola Oluwatoyin Abodunde, Raphael Ajuwa, Elias Ojie Abua, Mbalamen Jennifer Ijohor and Sabiu Bala Shuaibu.
Others are: James Kolawole Omotosho, Emeka Nwite, Dauda Njane Buba, Sanusi Kado, Enikuomehin Ademola and Julcit Veronica Dadom.
The council also extended the appointment of Ijeoma O. Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State for another three months to allow completion of the process for appointing a substantive chief judge.
The NJC commended Ononeze-Madu for declining to be sworn in contrary to established constitutional procedure, describing the action as “a demonstration of institutional integrity and respect for the rule of law.”
On disciplinary matters, the NJC rejected appeals filed by eight Imo judges compulsorily retired over age falsification, saying the judges “failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.”
However, the council reinstated T. I. Nze after he presented new evidence to the review committee.
The council also said it commended nine judges for exemplary performance during the 2024 and 2025 legal years and approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers over performance-related matters.