The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the Hon. the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, at its 107th Meeting of 13 and 14 November 2024, sanctioned 5 serving Judicial Officers for various acts of misconduct. Specifically, the Council at its meeting yesterday, suspended Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma of High Court of Rivers State from performing judicial functions for a period of one year without pay and also placed him on Watch-List for two years thereafter.

Also, Hon. Justice A. O. Nwabunike of Anambra State High Court, has been suspended from performing judicial functions for one year without pay and placed on Watch-List for two years thereafter. The Council also recommended two Heads of Court for compulsory retirement over falsification of age. The duo of the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Hon. Kadi Babagana Mahdi, were recommended for compulsory retirement for falsification of their ages.

The Council equally considered the Report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which considered a total number of 30 petitions, empaneled 6 Committees for further investigation. While 22 were dismissed for lacking in merit, two were sub judice. The Council also empanelled a Committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.

The Council’s findings revealed that Hon. Justice G. C. Aguma, committed acts of misconduct by aiding a litigant who obtained a judgment at the FCT High Court, Abuja, and filed a garnishee against judgement debtors in Bori Division of the High Court, Rivers State. The Council finds that Justice Aguma failed to raise any query as to why the garnishee proceedings were brought to his Court in Bori for a money judgment that could effectively be enforced in Abuja.


Those recommended for appointment are as follows:
EIGHT (8) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, OYO STATE
Opayinka, Adeniyi Gabriel
Oyediran, Oloyede Semiu
Oladejo, Olusoji Moses
Ademola-Salami, Oluwaseun Toluwanimi
Adesina, Jimoh Adam
Adekunle, Yemi Saubana
Adepoju, Olutola Jolade Adenike
Muraina, Olayemi Rasaq


FOUR (4) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, KEBBI STATE

Muhammad, Kwaido Hassan
Ibrahim, Umar Halima
Jagwadeji, Suru Lauratu
Muhammad, Nuruddeen
SEVEN (7) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, SOKOTO STATE

Haruna, Dogondaji Mariya
Sahabi, Jaredi Hadiza
Ahmad, Sha’aibu
Hassan, Fatima
Mohammed, Sa’idu Fatima
Muhammad, Nura Bello
Moyi, Abubakar


SIX (6) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, AKWA IBOM STATE

Ekanem, James Bassey
Umohandi, Mfon Winifred
Essien, Bassey Iwakaowo
Morrison, Henry Comfort
Ntekim, Edet Ekpo
Eddie, Julius Sharon
SEVEN (7) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, SOKOTO STATE

Muhammad, Abdulazeez Yar’Abba
Lawal, Isa Abubakar
Bello, Sokoto Ibrahim
Imam, Abubakar Bello
Muhammad, Abibu Lawal
Ibrahim, Bodinga Umar
Kabiru, Marnona Umar
TWO (2) KADIS, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KEBBI STATE

Aliyu, Kabir, SAN
Bello, Muhammad Atiku
TWO (2) JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, OYO STATE

Oyediran, Safiya Amope
Ojekunle, Ojeyemi Ademola
All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in by their respective State Governors.

Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, Esq.
Deputy Director (Information)