• Council clears Osun CJ, Delta judge of misconduct
• Uzodimma directed to reconstitute judicial council
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the elevation of Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court and the appointment of 35 judges for courts across the country.
The decisions were taken at the NJC’s 110th meeting held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Justice Oyewole in 2009, famously convicted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) former Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George for money laundering, during his service at the Lagos High Court.
NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, who made the appointments known, said in addition to Justice Oyewole, who currently presides over the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal, the Council approved 27 candidates for appointment as judges of various States High Courts.
Of the 27, six were recommended for the Borno State High Court; four for Niger State High Court; one each for Benue and Taraba states; six for Plateau State High Court; four for Delta State High Court; and five for Ekiti State High Court.
The NJC also recommended the appointment of six Kadis to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba and Katsina states. Three Kadis were approved for Niger State, two for Taraba State and one for Katsina State.
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The Council recommended the appointment of two judges to the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.
According to the statement, the recommendations followed a rigorous screening process that included the consideration of public complaints and interviews conducted by a seven-member Interview Committee, in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.
Recommended judges
For the Borno State High Court, the recommended candidates are: Mustapha Mallam Babagana, Hadiza Grema Mustapha, James Peter Bwala, Zannah Tijjani Babakura, Alkali Alhaji Umar Dunoma, and Yahaya Alhaji.
For the Plateau State High Court, the nominees are: Andrawus Maikai, Tongret Nanman Nkwap Kparbong, Diane Ngummai Mantu, John Ishaku Bature, Gavou Musa Mallan, and Kingsley Mangai.
For the Ekiti State High Court, those recommended are: Olanike Caroline Adegoke; Julius Sunday Bamidele Ajibare; Julius Akinyede; Stephen Rotimi Anoma; and Adefunke Helen Bamise.
For Niger State High Court, the nominees are: Adamu Ahmed Abubakar, Bala Ndajiwo Gambo, Sa’adatu Abubakar Wushishi, and Sulaiman Buhari.
For Delta State High Court, the recommended candidates are: Jonah Akporuaro Sam-Oligida Otite, Ukuli Jereoma, Boeye Irene Adamidenyo, and Otome Benjamin.
For Taraba State High Court, the Council recommended Babagari Mansura Mohammed.
Sharia and Customary sourts
For the Niger State Sharia Court of Appeal, the recommended Kadis are: Usman Abdulrahman Aboki, Ya’aba Muhammad Mohammed, and Nasir Ibrahim.
For the Taraba State Sharia Court of Appeal, the approved Kadis are: Muhammad Yakubu and Yahaya Abubakar Aliyu.
For the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal, Mustapha Salisu Mutawakkil was recommended.
For the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal, the recommended candidates are: Bridget Onome Ojeikere and Stella Ovuorieroro Okah.
Other decisions
The Council also approved the extension of the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice I. O. Agugua, by three months.
It called on the Governor of Imo State to immediately commence the process of constituting the State Judicial Service Commission to facilitate the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge.
The NJC stressed the need for the prompt appointment of a substantive Chief Judge to ensure stability, safeguard judicial independence and promote effective administration of justice in the state.
The Council cleared the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, of allegations bordering on financial recklessness, diversion of funds and judicial misconduct.
The decision followed the consideration of a report by a three-member Investigation Committee set up to probe several petitions filed against the Chief Judge by a staff member of the Osun State Customary Court of Appeal and Chairman of the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Mr. Eludire G. Kunle, alongside three others.
Similar petitions were also filed by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun; Mrs. Temitope Opeoluwa Fasina; and a joint petition by the Osun State Attorney-General, Oluwole Jimi Bada, and four purported members of the State Judicial Service Commission.
The petitioners alleged, among others, unilateral suspension of judiciary staff, selective promotion, stoppage of training programmes, disobedience of court orders and misappropriation of funds, including alleged diversion of N7.4 million meant for judges’ and magistrates’ retreat, N5 million robe allowance and proceeds from e-affidavits.
The committee held several sittings during which all parties were represented by counsel and called witnesses.
It ruled that the petition by the Attorney-General and others was incompetent, as issues concerning the membership of the Judicial Service Commission were already before a court.
However, it held that the remaining petitioners had the requisite locus standi.
It found that the suspension of judiciary staff followed due process and did not amount to misconduct, while issues of training and promotion fell within the statutory responsibilities of the Judicial Service Commission.
The committee also found no evidence that Justice Ojo diverted robe allowances, misappropriated funds or personally benefited from the transactions complained of.
It concluded that none of the allegations amounted to judicial misconduct or a breach of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
The Council accepted the committee’s recommendations in full and dismissed all the petitions.
In another decision, the NJC dismissed a petition against a judge of the Delta State High Court, Hon. Justice Gentu E. Timi, over alleged professional misconduct arising from a chieftaincy dispute.
The petition, filed by Prince Mbanefo Nwoko (KSC), was withdrawn before the Investigation Committee commenced sitting, following the resolution of the dispute after the presentation of the staff of office to his client by Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori. The Council consequently discontinued the matter.
The Council also reversed the one-year suspension without pay earlier imposed on Hon. Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division.
Justice Inyang had been suspended for breaching Rule 3(5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers over the grant of ex parte orders at the interlocutory stage for the sale of assets belonging to Udeme Assets Limited while he was a judge of the Federal High Court, Uyo Division.
However, upon review, the Council found that the decision complained of was already on appeal at the time the petition was filed and that the petition was instituted outside the six months allowed under its policy. The suspension was therefore set aside.
Out of 39 petitions considered by the Council’s Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees, 26 were dismissed for lack of merit, seven were recommended for further investigation, while two judicial officers were cautioned.
The Council reiterated its warning against the indiscriminate grant of ex parte orders and advised Heads of Court to exercise caution in assigning complex cases to newly appointed judges.
It also constituted a committee to consider the request for review submitted by nine dismissed judges of the Imo State Judiciary, but declined to entertain a fresh petition against the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, having previously disposed of similar issues.
The Council approved the voluntary retirement of Umar Ibrahim Abdullahi, Acting Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Plateau State, and Hon. Justice Obientobara Owupele Daniel-Kalio, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division. It noted with regret that Abdullahi passed away shortly after submitting his notice of retirement.
The NJC also announced the deaths of judicial officers who passed away between November and December 2025, including Justice Oluwayemisi Ikeolupo Adelaja of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Kubwa, Abuja, and Umar Ibrahim Abdullahi, former Acting Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Plateau State.