Judicial Integrity at Stake as NJC Investigates Top Judges

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has commenced a sweeping but discreet investigation into allegations of corruption and gross misconduct involving some senior judicial officers, including heads of courts, in what insiders describe as one of the most far-reaching accountability efforts within Nigeria’s judiciary in recent years.

OTN News further reports as gathered that multiple judiciary sources confirmed that the probe was triggered by what were described as “damning and disturbing petitions” submitted against unnamed top judges over the past few months.

The petitions reportedly alleged serious infractions ranging from forgery and age falsification to false asset declarations and abuse of office.

OTN News observes that the NJC, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, was constitutionally empowered under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to appoint, discipline and recommend the removal of judicial officers.

Sources said the gravity of the allegations prompted the CJN to order an urgent but confidential inquiry to identify those culpable and safeguard the integrity of the bench.

“The allegation against one of the senior judges is so grave that the Chief Justice ordered an immediate and confidential probe to sanitise the system,” a senior judiciary official familiar with the matter told reporters.

Another source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to comment publicly, described the claims as “serious and shocking,” adding that the CJN was determined to prevent further erosion of public trust in the judiciary.

“Deeply concerned by the weight of the allegations, the CJN is mobilising the council for decisive administrative action. She does not want these claims to damage the integrity of the bench,” the source said.

OTN News further observes that the identities of the judges under investigation, as well as those who submitted the petitions, have not been disclosed. 

It was gathered that the inquiry is being handled under strict confidentiality and is known only to a limited number of council members and officials.

When contacted for confirmation, the Senior Special Assistant to the CJN on Media, Mr Tobi Soniyi, said he had not been briefed on the matter and referred enquiries to the council. 

Similarly, the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Mrs Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, said she was unaware of any such investigation.

OTN News further observes that the reported probe comes amid sustained reform efforts within the judiciary under Justice Kekere-Ekun’s leadership. 

OTN News recalls that at the commencement of the 2025/2026 legal year in September 2025, the CJN pledged sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and judicial excellence. 

Earlier, during her swearing-in as Acting CJN in August 2024, she acknowledged declining public confidence in the judiciary and vowed to restore its credibility.

Since assuming office, the NJC under her chairmanship has taken notable disciplinary actions against erring judicial officers. 

On November 15, 2024, the council approved the compulsory retirement of two judges, suspended two others for two years and issued a formal warning to another, while setting up investigative panels to probe additional allegations. 

On June 26, 2025, the council again wielded the disciplinary hammer, compulsorily retiring 10 judges, cautioning five others and barring a judge of the National Industrial Court from promotion for three years.

Legal analysts said that if confirmed, the latest investigation would reinforce perceptions of a renewed determination by the NJC to cleanse the bench and entrench accountability within the justice system at a time of heightened public scrutiny.

For now, however, official silence from the council has left key questions unanswered, including the full scope of the probe and the potential consequences for those under investigation, as the judiciary once again finds itself under the spotlight.