Thirty four lawyers nominated for appointment as judges of Nigeria’s Federal High Court have been disqualified after failing an integrity screening conducted by the National Judicial Council, NJC. The outcome highlights a renewed push by the judiciary to strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in the courts.

According to reports, the disqualification followed the application of newly approved integrity guidelines introduced by the NJC under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. The policy is designed to prevent candidates with questionable character or unresolved allegations from being elevated to the bench.

How the screening unfolded

The affected nominees were drawn from a list of 62 lawyers earlier shortlisted for Federal High Court appointments. While all 62 candidates reportedly passed the computer based test conducted by the Federal High Court, the process did not end there.

After the CBT stage, their names were forwarded to the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, for further assessment. In line with established procedures, the FJSC implemented the integrity screening policy approved by the CJN by publishing the names of all nominees and inviting comments from the public.

The list was made public on September 17, 2025, giving individuals and organisations the opportunity to submit information on the integrity, reputation and suitability of the candidates for judicial office.

Petitions and investigations

During the review period, several petitions were reportedly submitted against some of the nominees. One petition, according to sources familiar with the process, involved a female nominee accused of demanding and receiving bribes while carrying out her official duties.

The allegation was referred to the Police Service Commission, PSC, for investigation. According to findings from the inquiry, the PSC confirmed that the nominee demanded and received a bribe of ₦1 million in connection with a court matter handled by her office.

Meanwhile, other petitions raised concerns about conduct and professional ethics involving additional candidates. These complaints were considered alongside available records and reports during the integrity assessment.

Only 28 candidates move forward

Based on the outcome of the screening, the FJSC approved only 28 nominees for further consideration and forwarded their names to the NJC. The remaining 34 candidates were dropped for failing to meet the integrity requirements set out in the new guidelines.

Sources said the 28 cleared nominees will now proceed to the interview stage before the NJC, which is expected to take place in January 2026.

NJC confirms January meeting

Confirming the development, the NJC Director of Information, Kemi Ogedegbe, said the Council is scheduled to meet between January 13 and 14 to deliberate on issues relating to the appointment of Federal High Court judges.

She added that interviews for the shortlisted candidates would likely hold earlier in the week, ahead of the Council’s main meeting. While she declined to comment on specific petitions, Ogedegbe stressed that the NJC would not compromise on integrity or merit in judicial appointments.

According to her, only candidates found worthy after the interview process will be recommended for appointment, reinforcing the Council’s commitment to restoring trust in the judiciary.