Abuja Judge Who ‘Delivered Verdict Without Hearing Parties’ Bags Suspension
…As NJC Reverses Imo Acting CJ’s Appointment, Suspends Two Others
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has slammed a one-year suspension without pay on three judicial officers, including Justice Ekwo Inyang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Ekwo, alongside others, was sanctioned for serious breaches of judicial conduct.
Justice Ekwo was allegedly found guilty of delivering a ruling in a criminal charge without hearing the parties involved, in violation of fundamental principles of fair hearing.
The NJC also noted that he disregarded an application to set aside proceedings conducted in the absence of the parties and went ahead to dismiss the charge.
For the infractions, Justice Ekwo has also been placed on a five-year watchlist and barred from promotion within the same period.
The disciplinary action was ratified at the NJC’s 108th meeting held on April 29 and 30, 2025, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun.
The council also suspended Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, for one year without pay for issuing inappropriate ex parte orders during her time at the Federal High Court, which led to the sale of a litigant’s petrol station and business at the interlocutory stage of a matter.
Her case has drawn sharp reactions from legal commentators who questioned how she was elevated to the appellate court despite a pending complaint.
Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division, was the third judge suspended for granting an order restraining security agencies from performing their statutory duties, in violation of the doctrine of stare decisis.
Reacting to the developments, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and professor at Harvard and The Fletcher School, criticized the NJC’s handling of the cases as inadequate and emblematic of systemic rot.
He described the suspensions as mere slaps on the wrist that allow compromised judges to return to the bench with little deterrent effect.
“The only miracle in the case of Inyang Ekwo is how he has remained on the bench until now. He’s been one of the more predictable judges in @FederalHigh. For the past year, he has been under caution by @njcNig. Now, he has been suspended for delivering judgment without hearing parties!
“In May 2024, @njcNig issued a caution to Inyang Ekwo of @Federalhigh for abuse of judicial discretion and barred him from elevation for 2 years. Yesterday, they barred him from elevation for 5 years. How many times can 1 judge be barred from elevation before @njcNig does the right thing?” Odinkalu queried in a series of tweets on Thursday.
He also condemned the elevation of Justice Jane Inyang to the Court of Appeal in 2023, despite allegations of misconduct already trailing her.
Odinkalu recalled: “Jane Inyang became Justice of @CourtOfAppealNG in Sept 2023, less than 2 years ago. Yesterday, @njcNig suspended her for just 1 year for egregious acts of judicial corruption while she sat in @FederalHigh. How can she still be a judge?!
“This was part of the last minute elevations masterminded by the baleful Olukakayode Ariwoola was he made his way out of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, #CJN, in Aug 2024.”
He added, “Many will see these dispositions by @njcNig as progress; May be. But, these dispositions are evidence of the deep malaise that currently afflicts the #NigerianJudiciary. 1st, if a person is as crooked as Jane Inyang or as Inyang Ekwo, how can that person be a judge to begin with?
“Second, if a judge can behave with such manifest impunity & disregard for the basic rules of judicial comportment as these 2 & still remain a judge – that’s what suspension for 1 year means – what wld it take for a judge to be relieved of their position? May be commit murder….?
“Third, how did Jane Inyang manage to make it to @CourtOfAppealNG while the complaint about her conduct was still pending? @njcNig says it has suspended her from elevation for 5 yrs. U know what that means? She can still get to @SupremeCourtNg. U see the mess we are in?
“In plain language, the @njcNig is now deeply complicit in judicial corruption. It is handing out these irresponsible slaps on the wrist with utter disregard for their effect on judicial integrity or the damage that these entrench in the judiciary. This rot is deeply criminal.
“The conclusion is inescapable that @njcNig as currently constituted is part of the problem not part of the solution. What it has done in these cases is just not good enough. If it is not willing to root out judicial crookedness, then it should be rooted out.
“If you read this, just ask @njcNig one question: if a judge is suspended for one year without pay, what is the person doing coming back to be a judge? If anything, the person is more likely to come back more.”
Meanwhile, In another decision, the NJC directed Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to reverse the appointment of Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu as Acting Chief Judge of the state, citing a breach of Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The section mandates that the most senior judge in the High Court should be appointed in an acting capacity when the position becomes vacant.
Justice Nzeukwu, who had presented himself to be sworn in as acting Chief Judge, was ordered to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.
Similarly, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice V. U. Okorie, who recommended the appointment in his capacity as Interim Chairman of the Imo Judicial Service Commission, was also asked to justify his actions within the same timeframe.
During the meeting, the NJC considered 43 petitions, dismissed 29 for lack of merit, and empanelled nine committees to investigate allegations against 27 judicial officers.
It also issued a caution to Justice A. O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, and placed other petitions in abeyance pending appellate outcomes.
The council further announced that it will henceforth publish the names of judicial candidates being considered for appointment to allow public scrutiny and input. This, it said, would help ensure transparency and uphold merit-based selection in the judiciary.
Abuja Judge Who ‘Delivered Verdict Without Hearing Parties’ Bags Suspension is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
