Judicial Misconduct: NJC Suspends Three Judges and Places Six on Watchlist

The National Judicial Council (NJC) suspended three judges for one year at its 112th meeting on November 3, chaired by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; two of the judges were also barred from promotion for three years. Nasarawa High Court judge Hannatu Mohammed Kabir was sanctioned for detaining a litigant for 58 days without proper contempt proceedings; Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu was suspended for reopening a judgment, while Justice Sobere Biambo issued arrest warrants and fines in a civil dispute without due process. The NJC also placed six judges on a watchlist and warned them, dismissed 24 petitions, approved 28 judicial appointments, and referred four petitions for further investigation.