The National Judicial Council has imposed a one-year suspension without pay on three serving judicial officers, including a Justice of the Court of Appeal, for various acts of judicial misconduct.
The disciplinary actions, News Band understand, were among several major resolutions reached at the Council’s 108th meeting held on April 29 and 30, 2025, under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The affected judges are Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division; Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, and Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court in Zamfara State.
A statement issued by the Deputy Director of Information of the NJC, Kemi Babalola, on Wednesday, also said that the council empanelled nine committees to investigate 27 judicial officers for various allegations of misconduct.
Other decisions taken by the council included the dismissal of 29 petitions and the issuance of a letter of warning to a Federal High Court Judge.
The NJC also asked the acting Chief Judge Imo State to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
Also, NJC asked the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State, to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for presiding over the JSC meeting that recommended the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of the State, contrary to the provision of the Constitution.
It said that: ‘’appointment of Judicial Officers henceforth open to public scrutiny and also directed the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma to appoint the most senior Judicial Officer in the State High Court’s hierarchy as the acting Chief Judge of the State in conformity with Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).’’
The NJC resolved that the constitutional provision on the appointment of an acting Chief Judge of a State does not give room for discretion. Section 271(4) of the Constitution provides: “If the office of the Chief Judge of a State is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the Governor shall appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court to perform those functions.”
