••27 Judicial Officers Under Investigation
By John Audu.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has taken decisive action by suspending three judges for one year without pay due to misconduct. The suspended justices are:
Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division
Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court in Zamfara State
The NJC’s decision, which emerged from its 108th meeting held on April 29-30, 2025, also included directives for the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, to reverse the appointment of the acting Chief Judge of the State, Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu.
In its resolution, the NJC mandated the acting Chief Judge to provide justification within seven days for his appointment, as well as the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Imo State, who is under scrutiny for his role in the appointment process.
A statement from NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola, revealed that the Council has empanelled nine committees to investigate a total of 27 judicial officers for various allegations of misconduct.
Among the notable decisions made, the NJC dismissed 29 petitions and issued a letter of caution to a Federal High Court judge. The Council emphasized its commitment to transparency, stating that future appointments of judicial officers will be subject to public scrutiny.
The NJC reiterated that the constitutional provision regarding the appointment of an acting Chief Judge does not allow for discretion, as outlined in Section 271(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Details of Judicial Misconduct:
Justice Jane E. Inyang was found guilty of breaching the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers by issuing inappropriate ex parte orders during an ongoing case.
Justice Inyang Ekwo faced suspension for delivering a ruling without hearing the involved parties, violating procedural rules.
Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu was suspended for granting an order that hindered security agencies from performing their statutory duties, breaching established judicial norms.
The NJC’s meeting, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also addressed various petitions, some of which were dismissed for lack of merit, while others remain pending further investigation.
The Council has emphasized its commitment to uphold judicial integrity and ensure that the appointment process for judicial officers is transparent and accountable to the public.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
