Nigeria NJC Cleans House, Sanctioning Judges and Appointing New Ones

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has taken decisive action to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, recommending two judges for appointment as Heads of Court and 19 others for various judicial positions after considering public complaints against candidates. In a move to enforce accountability, the NJC also recommended the compulsory retirement of 10 judges from the Imo State Judiciary—nine for falsifying their dates of birth and one for accepting an acting Chief Judge role out of hierarchy. In addition, one Judge was barred from promotion for three years due to misconduct, while five others received official warnings or cautions, demonstrating a commitment to self-regulation.

• The NJC recommended 21 individuals for judicial appointments across several states, including Ekiti, Yobe, Cross River, and Ogun.
• 10 Imo State judges were recommended for compulsory retirement over age falsification and constitutional breaches.
• A National Industrial Court Judge was barred from promotion for three years for misconduct, including wrongly ordering the confiscation of over N1 billion.
• The decisions followed a review of 86 public complaints against candidates, highlighting a new policy of public input in judicial appointments.

For years, the Unseen Scales of the NJC seemed tilted, hidden from public view as accountability remained out of reach. Nigerians have long doubted whether justice was truly blind or just selective. This sudden push for transparency and discipline raises a pressing question: Is this a real shift toward fairness, or just a rare glimpse behind the curtain? Only time will tell if the Unseen Scales now weigh equally for all.