The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended Justice Sobere Biambo of the Rivers State High Court for one year without pay over alleged judicial misconduct.
The council announced the decision after its 112th meeting in Abuja, where it sanctioned three judicial officers for different breaches of judicial conduct.
Besides Justice Biambo, the affected officers are Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court and Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.
The NJC also restricted Justice Biambo’s elevation for three years. It imposed the same restriction on Justice Kabir.
According to the council, the sanctions against the two judges followed their issuance of bench warrants and imposition of fines on litigants in a civil dispute without following due process.
The suspension means Justice Sobere Biambo will remain away from judicial duties for one year without receiving his salary. Meanwhile, the NJC issued warning letters to three other judicial officers and cautioned eight others following its review of complaints and disciplinary matters.
In another decision, the council directed the Imo State Judicial Service Commission to include the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, among candidates for interviews for the substantive position of Chief Judge.
The council also recommended 28 candidates for judicial appointments.
The decisions form part of the NJC’s disciplinary and appointment responsibilities within Nigeria’s judiciary.
Justice Sobere Biambo’s suspension is among three one-year suspensions announced at the council’s 112th meeting in Abuja.
