Judicial Tensions Soar As NJC Plans Meeting Over Misconduct Claims Against Judges

Reports indicate that Justice Kekere-Ekun is determined to rebuild public confidence in the judiciary by taking swift action on any misconduct. A source revealed, “The Chief Justice is awaiting committee reports with a clear resolve for decisive action.”

Between May and August 2024, 22 complaints against 27 judges from federal and state high courts were reviewed by the NJC’s Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee. Out of these, 18 were dismissed due to lack of merit, abandonment, or pending court matters. In addition, the NJC established eight panels to investigate further allegations involving other judges, narrowing the review to 12 petitions from the initial 55, which remain under active investigation.

The panels, composed of a chairman and two members, have requested written and, if necessary, oral responses from the accused judges. Although the initial deadline for panel completion was October 31, 2024, a few judges requested brief extensions to respond to multiple petitions.

Meanwhile, senior legal professionals have urged the NJC to address recent judicial crises, including conflicting rulings in Rivers State over council elections and similar situations, which have raised concerns over the integrity of judicial jurisdiction in political cases.