The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 12 new Justices of the Court of Appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Rising from its 111th meeting held on May 13, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Council also recommended one candidate for appointment as Judge of the High Court of Benue State and two candidates for appointment as Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State.

A statement issued late Thursday by the Deputy Director of Information of the NJC, Mrs. Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, said the recommendations were intended to fill vacancies arising from the elevation and retirement of judicial officers across various levels of the judiciary and to strengthen the capacity of courts for effective justice delivery.

According to the statement, the judges recommended for elevation to the Court of Appeal bench are Justices Yakubu Abdulhammeed Mohammed, Abodunde Monisola Oluwatoyin, Ajuwa Raphael, Abua Elias Ojie, Ijohor Mbalamen Jennifer and Shuaibu Sabiu Bala.

Others are Justices Omotosho James Kolawole, Nwite Emeka, Buba Dauda Njane, Kado Sanusi Ademola, Enikuomehin and Dadom Julcit Veronica.

Justice Christine T. Clement Ende was recommended for appointment as a Judge of the Benue State High Court, while Ibrahim Abdullahi Yakubu and Bala Salisu Daura were recommended for appointment to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State.

The NJC spokesperson stated that the consideration of Messrs. Yakubu and Daura had earlier been stepped down in January 2026 following a petition by Tanimu Yusuf questioning their eligibility on account of prior retirement from public service. After due examination of the issues raised, the Council concluded its deliberations and approved their recommendation.

The NJC stated that all recommendations followed a rigorous selection process involving public scrutiny, evaluation of complaints received from stakeholders, and interviews conducted by a nine-member Interview Committee, in accordance with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.

The Council also reaffirmed that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), does not prohibit retired public servants from judicial appointment.

The decision was further guided by judicial precedent, particularly Ayoola v. Baruwa (1999), where the Court of Appeal affirmed that no constitutional provision precludes a retired legal practitioner from appointment to the bench.

The statement read: “Under the newly adopted policy, a retired public servant must have a minimum of 10 years remaining in service before attaining the mandatory judicial retirement age; prospective candidates must disclose any criminal conviction; provide full employment history and reasons for leaving previous employment; declare existing employment obligations; and disclose financial status, including any circumstance of financial embarrassment.

“The Council noted that public service retirement may occur through voluntary retirement, compulsory retirement, or advised resignation, and observed that some officers retire upon attaining 50 years of age after completing 35 years of service. The requirement of a minimum remaining service period was introduced to ensure optimal institutional investment in judicial training and to promote continuity, stability and efficiency within the judiciary.”

The Council extended the acting appointment of Justice Ijeoma O. Agugua as Acting Chief Judge of Imo State for a further period of three months, from March 26, 2026, to June 26, 2026, to allow for the completion of the process for appointing a substantive Chief Judge.

The NJC commended Justice Ononeze-Madu for declining to be sworn in contrary to established constitutional procedure, describing the action as a demonstration of institutional integrity and respect for the rule of law.

It reiterated its call on the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to expedite the process of appointing a substantive Chief Judge in order to ensure stability, safeguard judicial independence and enhance the effective administration of justice in the state.

On disciplinary matters, the Council rejected appeals filed by eight judges of the Imo State judiciary seeking a reversal of their compulsory retirement from service over age falsification, having found that the affected judges failed to present fresh evidence capable of justifying a reversal of the sanctions imposed on them.

The judges include Justices B.C. Iheka, K.A. Leaweanya, Okereke Chinyere Ngozi, Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi, Ofoha Uchenna, Everyman Eleanya, Rosemond Ibe and T.N. Nzeukwu.

However, the Council reinstated Justice T.I. Nze of the Customary Court of Appeal after His Lordship presented new evidence to the review committee, which the committee found to be authentic.

The affected judges were among 10 judicial officers recommended for compulsory retirement at the Council’s 109th meeting held on June 25, 2025.

The statement said nine of them were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to unlawfully extend their years in service, while Justice T.N. Nzeukwu was found to have made himself available to be sworn in as Acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in the hierarchy of judges, contrary to Section 271(4) of the Constitution.

The Council also considered 13 investigation reports on petitions filed against judicial officers across the country over the handling of cases before them.

Following deliberations, the NJC dismissed eight petitions for lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution or for being statute-barred, while sanctions, including one-year suspension without pay, were imposed in two cases where misconduct was established.

Specifically, the Council suspended Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the High Court of Nasarawa State for one year without pay for judicial misconduct involving the grant of an ex parte order in breach of Rules 3.1, 3.3 and 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016.

The suspension followed a petition by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma over proceedings in Suit No. NSD/MG56M/2025.

The petitioner alleged that Justice Shekarau granted an ex parte order directing the transfer of ₦7 million from her bank account to a third party as a purported reversal of funds.

She contended that the ex parte application was filed, heard and granted on the same day without any substantive suit pending before the court, and that the order wrongly implied her involvement in fraud despite her not being charged or made a party to the proceedings.

She further alleged that the judge failed to verify the alleged erroneous transfer before making the order, thereby amounting to judicial misconduct.

The committee found that the judge acted in bad faith, failed to observe due process and demonstrated a lack of professional competence.

Similarly, the Council suspended Justice Edward A.E. Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for one year without pay over allegations of breach of fair hearing in a matrimonial case.

The decision followed a petition filed by Mr. Sunday Emmanuel Oso, who accused the judge of bias and denial of fair hearing in Suit No. FCT/HC/PET/529/2024 between Lateefat Adeola Oso and Sunday Emmanuel Oso.

In the petition, Oso alleged that although he was served hearing notices fixing the matter for September 19, 2024, the court heard and granted an ex parte application on September 17, 2024, without notice to him.

He further alleged that when the matter later came up, the judge declined to hear the Motion on Notice and instead entertained committal proceedings against him based on alleged disobedience of the earlier ex parte order.

The committee found that Justice Okpe granted an ex parte application that led to committal proceedings against the petitioner without affording him the opportunity to be heard, contrary to Rule 3.3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

In another case, the Council dismissed a petition filed against Justice Charles N. Wali of the Rivers State High Court over allegations of misconduct linked to the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis.

The NJC found that the allegations were unsubstantiated and recommended that the petitioner, Daniel Chibuzor Amadi Esq., be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for disciplinary action over allegations described as reckless and unsupported by evidence.

The Council also deliberated on the report of 98 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees. Out of the petitions considered, 68 were dismissed for lack of merit, four judges were cautioned, one judge received a final warning, while 11 petitions were recommended for further investigation.

The Council further adopted reports suspending proceedings in some petitions on the grounds that the matters were sub judice.

Council also resolved to refer one Mbadiwe Ossai to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for investigation and prosecution for alleged perjury, while Adeboye Williams Adewale Esq., Dr. Peter N. Ekemezie Esq., Dr. Martin Odika Esq., and Muhammad Hamza Ahmad-Gana Esq. were referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for writing frivolous and unsubstantiated petitions calculated to harass and intimidate judicial officers.

In a related development, one Yusuf Isa, described as a serial petitioner, was barred from further presenting petitions to the Council.

On judicial performance evaluation, the NJC commended nine judges for exemplary performance during the 2024 and 2025 legal years.

Two judges are to receive letters of commendation for delivering more than 21 considered judgments within the review period, while seven others will receive appreciation letters for commendable performance.

The Council also approved the issuance of 256 letters to judicial officers for various performance-related issues and approved the retirement of Justice Hamma Akawu Barka of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, who retired on April 17, 2026; Justice Amina Audi Wambai of the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, who will retire on July 6, 2026; and Justice Bello Mohammed Shinkafi of the High Court of Zamfara State, who will voluntarily retire on July 31, 2026.

The NJC expressed profound appreciation for their dedicated and meritorious service to the judiciary and the nation.

The Council also expressed regret over the deaths of three judicial officers between December 12, 2025, and April 1, 2026. They are Justice Godswill Vidal Obomanu of the High Court, Rivers State; Justice Bamidele Folarinle Adeyeye of the High Court, Ondo State; and Justice Yahaya Adamu of the High Court, Kogi State.