NJC Queries 256 Judges For Poor Performance

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has queried 256 judges of various courts across the country for low performance.

The council, after its 111th meeting held on 13th May 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, recommended the appointment of 12 new Justices of the Court of Appeal to the President.

The deputy director in charge of Information at the NJC, Mrs Kemi Ogedengbe, said the council deliberated on the judicial performance evaluation and commended nine judges for exemplary performance during the 2024 and 2025 legal years.

She said, “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.

“Specifically, the council suspended Hon. 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 Hon. Justice Shekarau granted an ex parte order directing the transfer of N7 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 issuing the order, thereby constituting 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 Hon. 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 19 September 2024, the court heard and granted an ex parte application on 17 September 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 Hon. 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”.