The National Judicial Council (NJC) at its 109th meeting, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun, on June 25, 2025, has issued a caution to the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, over alleged abuse of judicial discretion.
This was contained in a statement signed by the NJC’s Acting Director of Information, Mrs. Kemi Babalola Ogedengbe.
According to her, “Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge, Edo State, was also cautioned over abuse of his judicial discretion in Suit No. B1/555/2020 and was advised to exercise his discretion judicially and judiciously in future.”
The Council also wielded the big stick on the Imo State Judiciary, recommending the compulsory retirement of ten judges for falsifying their ages to extend their tenure on the bench.
The affected judges include five High Court Judges and four Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal, alongside Justice T. N. Nzeukwu, who was found to have positioned himself illegally as Acting Chief Judge despite being fourth in seniority.
Mrs. Ogedengbe’s statement read in part: “Nine of the affected judges were found to have altered their dates of birth in official records to secure undue advantage, while Justice T. N. Nzeukwu made himself available to be sworn in as Acting Chief Judge against the provisions of the Constitution.”
In contrast, the NJC cleared Benue State Chief Judge, Justice M. A. Ikpambese, of all allegations against him, describing the petitions as “lacking in merit” and motivated solely by attempts to oust him.
The Council, however, resolved to report the State’s Attorney-General, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee for his role in what it described as a calculated scheme.
Meanwhile, the Council approved the appointments of Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye as Chief Judge of Ekiti State and Kadi Abba Mammadi as Grand Khadi of Yobe State, and recommended Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The Council also barred Justice Isaac J. Essien of the National Industrial Court from elevation for three years for misconduct, noting that he “wrongly ordered the confiscation of over N1 billion belonging to Nasarawa State despite a pending appeal and an unresolved application for stay of execution.”
In addition, four judges were cautioned for various infractions, including Justice G. B. Okolosi of the Delta State High Court, who received a final warning for flouting constitutional timelines for delivering judgments.
The NJC emphasized that it acted on robust public input, noting that “a flurry of 86 public comments and complaints were received, with 85% of them favourable.”
Mrs. Ogedengbe reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the judiciary: “Council will continue to ensure that only credible, competent and upright judicial officers remain on the bench to safeguard public confidence in our courts.”
