The National Judicial Council (NJC) has taken firm action against three judges, placing them on a one-year suspension without pay for various instances of judicial misconduct, while also setting up nine committees to investigate allegations against 27 other judges.
The judges placed on suspension include Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division; Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division; and Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division. The decision was reached at the NJC’s 108th meeting held between April 29 and 30, 2025.
Justice Inyang was suspended for issuing ex-parte orders that violated the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers. Justice Ekwo was reprimanded for ruling on a case without hearing from the parties involved, while Justice Baffa was penalized for granting orders that restrained security agencies from carrying out their statutory duties.
The NJC also issued a letter of caution to Hon. Justice A. O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos over a petition, while other investigations are ongoing for several other judges, with some petitions dismissed for lack of merit.
Additionally, the NJC has approved the voluntary retirement of Hon. Justice Babatunde Ahmed Ademola Bakre and has announced a new policy of publishing the names of judicial officer candidates for public scrutiny, to ensure transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.
