NJC Bars Justice Isaac J. Essien from Promotion for 3 Years Due to Misconduct, Issues Warning to Five Judges
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has taken disciplinary action against Hon. Justice Isaac J. Essien, a Judge of the National Industrial Court, barring him from being considered for promotion to a higher court for three years due to misconduct.
The decision reached at the NJC’s 109th meeting held on June 2025, and presided over by the Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun, GCON, followed the consideration of reports from its investigation and complaints assessment committee.
The council found that Justice Essien wrongly ordered the confiscation of over N1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government and its Local Government Councils, despite knowing about a pending appeal and application for stay of execution.
Justice Essien’s misconduct included refusing to step aside from a case despite concerns about possible bias due to his previous employment with the State University, which owed him gratuity. He had demanded payment using the official letterhead of the Court, breaching the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers. Additionally, he personally visited the Court of Appeal registry to confirm if an appeal had been filed, an action considered highly inappropriate for a Judge.
The NJC also considered reports from its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees, which reviewed 30 petitions against various Judicial Officers. Four committees were empaneled for further investigation, four judges were cautioned, and 22 petitions were dismissed for lacking merit.
The following judges were cautioned:
– Hon. Justice Rahman A. Oshodi: Cautioned for misuse of judicial discretion in Suit No. ID/232/53C/23.
– Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge Edo State was also cautioned for abuse of judicial discretion in Suit No. B1/555/2020 and advised to exercise discretion judicially and judiciously in the future.
– Hon. Justice G. B. Okolosi: Issued a final warning for continued flouting of Section 294 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
– Hon. Justice Sa’adatu I. Mark: Cautioned for delivering judgment after the constitutional 90 days.
The NJC dismissed petitions against several judges, including:
– *Justice A. M. Liman*: Federal High Court, Kano Division (Petition by Abdullahi Baffa Bichi)
– *Justice S. A. Amobeda*: (Petition by Abdullahi Baffa Bichi)
– *Justice Muhammad Auwal Haruna*: (Petition by Abdulrazaq Banaru Abubakar)
– *Justice Binta Fatima Murtala Nyako*: Exonerated as the council found no merit in the petition accusing her of delaying judgment and issuing an order on a property while the case was ongoing
Council deliberated on the report of the investigation Committee in respect of three petitions by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, Guana Benjamin Joseph, Esq., and Terhemen Ngbea respectively against Chief Judge, Benue State, Hon. Justice M. A. Ikpambese and absolved the Chief Judge from any judicial wrong doings, the petitions having been found to be lacking in merit.
It noted that all the petitions presented against him were with sole aim to remove him from his position as the Chief Judge.
The NJC also took action against Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Fidelis Bemsen Mnyim, resolving to report him to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for his role in attempting to remove the Chief Judge of Benue State, Hon. Justice M. A. Ikpambese.
Furthermore, the council blacklisted serial petitioner Peter N. Ekemezie from presenting further petitions before it.
