The National Judicial Council (NJC) has disqualified 34 lawyers seeking appointment as judges of the Federal High Court after they failed to meet the Council’s integrity and suitability standards, marking one of the most decisive integrity screenings in recent judicial appointments.
The affected lawyers were part of an initial pool of 62 candidates who had earlier passed the Computer-Based Test (CBT), a mandatory preliminary assessment conducted as part of the Federal High Court judgeship recruitment process.
Following the CBT stage, the candidates’ names were forwarded to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), which subjected them to a more rigorous evaluation in line with new appointment guidelines introduced by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
As part of the integrity screening, the FJSC publicly displayed the names of all nominees, inviting petitions and feedback from members of the public, legal practitioners, and relevant institutions on the character, conduct, and reputation of each candidate.
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During the review period, several petitions alleging misconduct, ethical breaches, and abuse of office were submitted against some of the nominees. These petitions formed a central part of the assessment process and were carefully investigated by relevant authorities.
In at least one notable case, a nominee was accused of demanding and receiving a bribe while performing judicial duties. The allegation was reportedly corroborated by investigative findings, contributing to the candidate’s eventual disqualification.
After concluding its evaluation, the FJSC cleared only 28 candidates, determining that the remaining 34 failed to meet the integrity threshold required for appointment to the Federal High Court bench.
The list of cleared candidates has now been forwarded to the NJC, which is expected to conduct final interviews and deliberations before making recommendations for appointment.
The NJC is scheduled to consider the matter at its statutory meeting in January 2026, after which successful candidates may be formally approved for appointment as Federal High Court judges.
Observers say the outcome reflects a renewed commitment by the judiciary to strengthen public confidence, promote transparency, and ensure that only individuals of proven integrity and sound character are entrusted with judicial authority in Nigeria.
