Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has promised President Bola Tinubu three million votes in the 2027 general elections, declaring the state’s support for his re-election bid.
Fubara gave the assurance on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, where he said Rivers had made its political choice and would not turn back. “Rivers will give you three million votes. We will stand by you. We will work for you. We will deliver for you,” the governor declared.
He also announced an end to political divisions in the state, saying leaders had put their differences aside and were now united behind a common political position in support of Tinubu.
According to him, the President had demonstrated commitment to Rivers State, adding that the people were prepared to reciprocate through their votes in the next general elections.
“We are not just talking. We will show it with our votes. Rivers people know how to keep their word,” he said.
Fubara urged APC supporters and political stakeholders to return to their respective wards and polling units to commence grassroots mobilisation, stressing that delivering the promised three million votes would require collective commitment and active participation.
The governor, however, clarified that despite his membership of the APC, Rivers State was operating a Rainbow Coalition involving political stakeholders from different parties.
“Let me also place it on record that, although I am an APC member, Rivers State operates under a Rainbow Coalition. Under this coalition, we have a shared slate that spans across the APC and the PDP. We assure you that our combined slate will be delivered come January 2027,” he said.
Fubara’s declaration comes amid intensified political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Tinubu’s supporters seeking to consolidate the President’s support base in Rivers State and the wider South-South region.
The Federal Ministry of Education has cancelled all admissions into the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, for the 2026 academic session over alleged violations of regulatory guidelines.
The ministry also directed the institute to discontinue all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, insisting that NTI lacks the statutory authority to award NCE and university degrees.
In a press release dated November 7, 2026, and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry warned prospective students, parents and the general public against seeking admission into the affected programmes.
It said no further admissions into the programmes, whether full-time, part-time or through Distance Learning Studies (DLS), would be permitted, urging members of the public not to apply, accept admission offers or make payments.
The directive followed alleged violations of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on September 12, 2025. The ministry explained that admissions into NCE programmes must comply with the requirements of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the accreditation standards of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
It also directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to notify affected universities and ensure compliance with the decision to discontinue NTI’s degree-awarding arrangements.
However, in a move to protect students already enrolled in the affected programmes, the ministry said the NCCE would undertake a comprehensive accreditation exercise covering existing NCE II–IV Distance Learning programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones.
It added that eligible students would be allowed to complete their programmes, subject to the outcome of the accreditation exercise and other applicable regulatory requirements. The ministry clarified that NTI’s statutory mandate remained focused on teacher training, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development.
According to the statement, the institute is also mandated to provide pedagogical capacity-building and administer the three-to-six-month Special Abridged Programme for serving teachers with non-Education degrees to acquire the professional competencies required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), subject to applicable regulations.
It stressed that the intervention was designed to protect students, safeguard academic standards and prevent prospective applicants from falling victim to unapproved academic programmes.
The ministry therefore urged members of the public to verify the accreditation and admission status of programmes through relevant regulatory agencies and official government channels before making enrolment or payment decisions.
Nigeria’s public relations institute becomes the first in the world to win the prestigious international award in consecutive years.
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has emerged the 2026 Global Public Relations Association of the Year, becoming the first professional institute in the world to win the prestigious international award for two consecutive years.
The award, regarded as the highest international recognition for public relations associations, was announced on Friday in Abuja by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Prof. Justin Green.
A statement signed by Stanley Ogadigo, Director, Public Relations of the NIPR, dated 6th of November, 2026, and sighted by The Atlantic Bell, stated that Green made the announcement at the launch of the Youth Digital Campaign for the forthcoming 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), organised by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the Forum’s Local Organising Committee.
He described NIPR’s consecutive victories as a significant achievement for Nigeria, noting that the competition attracted entries from public relations associations across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and India.
“It is truly a great honour for NIPR to have won this award for a second time running, which shows the calibre, experience and expertise within Nigeria. It is a true credit that couldn’t have come at a better time,” he said.
The Global Alliance said the award followed a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an international panel of distinguished judges. It added that the 2026 edition attracted 92 entries from different countries, underscoring the global reach and competitiveness of the awards.
Reacting to the recognition, NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, said the achievement demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to excel and provide global leadership across different fields of human endeavour.
He called on Nigerian leaders to harness the country’s enormous potentials to strengthen its international reputation and reposition its image before the global community.
“As an Institute charged with the responsibility of regulating the practice of public relations and manning the reputation gates of the nation, we understand the value of reputation and we are deliberate in telling the Nigerian story of excellence before the global community,” Neliaku said.
He added that the institute had continued to distinguish itself through initiatives, innovations and developmental projects aimed at advancing the public relations profession.
The NIPR president also expressed confidence that Nigeria’s hosting of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum would further consolidate the country’s standing in the global public relations community.
The forum, scheduled for November 15 to 22, 2026, is expected to attract international professionals and stakeholders in public relations and communication management.
Neliaku described the event as a national reputation project that would redefine global perceptions of Nigeria, expressing optimism that its impact would establish a standard difficult to surpass for decades.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the party, warning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against taking any action that could prejudice the pending appeal.
The party said it had filed a notice of appeal against the judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, alongside an application seeking a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.
The development was disclosed on Friday in a statement by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, who said INEC had been formally notified of the legal proceedings.
Shaibu said the application for a stay of execution was yet to be determined, urging the electoral commission not to proceed as though the pending legal challenge did not exist.
“The Commission must respect the judicial process and allow the appellate court to hear the case,” he said.
He warned that any consequential action by INEC before the appeal was heard could pre-empt the Court of Appeal and undermine the judicial resolution of the leadership dispute. In a related development, the party’s solicitors, S. E. Aruwa, SAN & Co., wrote to the INEC chairman on November 6, formally notifying the commission of the appeal and the application for a stay of execution.
The lawyers urged INEC to suspend further action on the subject matter of the suit pending the determination of the appeal.
Despite the legal challenge, the ADC said its political activities and preparations for the 2027 general election would continue without interruption.
“This is not the end of the road. The ADC is taking every lawful step to defend its rights, and we will not be intimidated or distracted from that responsibility,” Shaibu said.
He called on party members and supporters to remain calm and confident, assuring them that the party would sustain its political mobilisation and engagement with Nigerians.
“Our campaigns continue without interruption. There is no stopping the affordability train or our mission to make life better for Nigerians,” he added.
Justice Lifu’s judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the emergence of Mark and other members of the caretaker committee after the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu. Bala had argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s resignation.
The court ruled against the Mark-led leadership, nullifying the caretaker committee and its decisions, including those relating to the party’s process for selecting its 2027 presidential candidate. The judgment also cast a shadow over the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
Reacting to the ruling, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described it as an attempt to cripple the opposition and deny Nigerians the right to choose their leaders.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the proposed Ibom Deep-Sea Port and the upgrade of Victor Attah International Airport in Akwa Ibom State to full international status.
The President announced the approvals on Friday while addressing residents at a rally held in his honour at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Tinubu said the decision followed a request by Governor Umo Eno, describing the proposed deep-sea port as a major economic investment capable of driving development in the state and the wider South-South region.
“I heard from my friend, my governor, my pastor, on behalf of the people and leadership of Akwa Ibom, a request for Ibom’s deep-sea port. Ibom Deep-Sea Port. It’s approved,” the President said.
The approval comes after Eno pledged that Akwa Ibom would deliver two million votes for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 if the Federal Government approved and facilitated the port project.
The governor had described the proposed facility as a strategic infrastructure project capable of unlocking the economic potential of Akwa Ibom, the South-South region and Nigeria at large.
Tinubu had made a similar commitment during his 2023 presidential campaign rally in Uyo, promising to establish a deep-sea port in the state. He had cited the Lekki Deep Sea Port, developed during his tenure as Lagos State governor, as a model for the proposed project.
The President also confirmed approval of the request to upgrade Victor Attah International Airport to international airport status, a move expected to strengthen the state’s aviation infrastructure and improve connectivity.
He further pledged his administration’s support for investments in education, skills development, job creation and economic growth, stressing the need to create sustainable opportunities for the people.
Tinubu particularly highlighted the economic prospects of palm produce, arguing that Akwa Ibom could generate more wealth through the cultivation and processing of palm products.
“There is no reason why Akwa Ibom cannot use the value of palm trees and the palms here. There is no reason that we cannot create skills, developmental skills, that are enduring and everlasting,” he said.
He maintained that development must be inclusive and translate into tangible economic benefits for residents, adding that the proposed port would create economic value and stimulate growth.
The President also urged the people to support Governor Eno’s administration, encouraging them to follow his leadership and heed his guidance.
He called on eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate actively in the electoral process.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the 4,485 corps members deployed to the state for the 2026 Batch C Stream II National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation course to contribute meaningfully to the success of the 2027 general elections and national development.
Fubara, who gave the charge on Friday at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area, urged the corps members to repay the confidence reposed in them by Nigerians through patriotism, integrity and selfless service.
The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Promise Oguzie, gave the charge while declaring the orientation course open.
He assured the corps members of his administration’s commitment to prioritising their security and welfare throughout their service year. Fubara also urged them to reciprocate the love, support and goodwill of Rivers people by working diligently to make meaningful contributions to the development of the state.
The governor’s charge comes as the 4,485 corps members represent a significant deployment to Rivers State, with the state NYSC Coordinator, Moses Oleghe, describing the batch as the largest number of corps members ever posted to the state.
Oleghe attributed the high deployment to the attractive welfare packages provided for corps members serving in Rivers, but expressed concern over the pressure the increased number had placed on accommodation facilities at the orientation camp.
He appealed to the state government to urgently mobilise contractors to commence work on the approved 1,000-capacity hostels for male and female corps members to address the accommodation challenges.
The NYSC coordinator also urged the corps members to uphold moral values, neutrality, patriotism, integrity, honesty and transparency, particularly in their roles as ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2027 general elections.
He said their conduct would be critical to strengthening the nation’s democracy and ensuring the emergence of credible leaders at all levels.
The 4,485 corps members were subsequently sworn in by Justice Victor Ugorji, who represented the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned the judiciary against political interference in opposition parties, warning that court decisions capable of weakening opposition groups could undermine multiparty democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s warning followed a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.
The NDC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, on Friday, said judgments of such nature risk creating the impression that the courts were being used to frustrate opposition parties and weaken democratic competition. “We have noted the Federal High Court judgment derecognising the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress.
“While we respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, we are concerned that judgments of this nature, if not carefully handled, risk creating the impression that the courts are being used to scuttle democracy and weaken opposition,” the statement said.
The party also expressed concern over what it described as the pattern of judgments emanating from some High Courts, alleging that they suggested efforts to prevent the ADC from participating in the forthcoming general elections.
“The way some of these judgements are being churned out, especially from the High Courts, suggests a deliberate effort to shut out the ADC from the forthcoming general elections by other means.
“This would amount to further shrinking the chances of multi-party democracy, which is already under a big threat under the APC-led government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” it added.
The NDC urged the judiciary to safeguard its independence, impartiality and integrity, while advising the ADC to challenge the judgment at the appellate court without delay.
It also called on the Court of Appeal to accord any appeal arising from the judgment accelerated hearing, citing the approaching 2027 elections and the need to prevent prolonged legal uncertainty from affecting the party’s participation in the electoral process.
The controversy followed a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, nullifying the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership following the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, violated the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged Mark’s leadership and argued that he was entitled to assume the party’s leadership in accordance with its constitution.
The court also nullified decisions and actions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including the party’s 2027 presidential primary, which produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.
It further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the affected decisions. The ADC and Atiku have rejected the judgment and indicated plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
Commandant, National Institute for Security Studies, Mr Joseph Odama(right), presenting an Award to the NDDC MD, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, during the Distinguished Personality Lecture at the NISS in Abuja.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has intensified efforts to secure community buy-in for its development projects through stakeholder engagement, community monitoring committees and partnerships with traditional institutions, youth and women’s organisations, as part of a strategy to achieve lasting peace in the oil-rich region.
The Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said sustainable peace in the Niger Delta would depend not just on security operations but on making communities active participants in development planning, implementation and monitoring.
Ogbuku spoke in Abuja while delivering the Distinguished Personality Lecture at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), with the theme, “Peace Building Through Development: The Strategic Role of the NDDC in Stabilising the Niger Delta Region.”
He said the Commission had moved away from a transactional approach to development towards a transformational model designed to build public trust, strengthen community ownership and create sustainable economic opportunities. A major component of the strategy, according to him, is the introduction of Community Monitoring Committees, which gives host communities a direct role in monitoring development projects and ensuring that interventions meet their needs.
NDDC MD, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, and the Commandant, National Institute for Security Studies, Mr Joseph Odama, in a group photograph with NISS Course Participants and NDDC Directors during the Distinguished Personality Lecture at the NISS, in Abuja.
He explained that the initiative, unveiled at the Commission’s 2026 Partners for Sustainable Development Conference in Port Harcourt, was intended to make communities stakeholders and owners of development projects rather than passive beneficiaries.
Ogbuku said the Commission had also presented a Stakeholder Document to strengthen engagement with communities and provide a framework for more inclusive development interventions. “When a community monitors a project, it has a greater stake in protecting that project. When governments listen to communities, they are more likely to trust them. Transparency underpins trust, and trust underpins peace,” he said.
He added that the NDDC had introduced its ‘Rewind to Rebirth’ initiative to recalibrate its engagement with Niger Delta stakeholders and reposition its intervention programmes to deliver more meaningful results.
The managing director maintained that decades of relying largely on security enforcement had shown that lasting peace could not be achieved without addressing the development deficits and economic frustrations confronting the region. “Experience has taught us that you cannot sustainably secure what you have persistently failed to develop,” he said.
He stressed the importance of coordinating development interventions across the region, warning that duplication of projects and perceived inequality in resource allocation could fuel resentment and undermine peace.
Ogbuku said the NDDC was collaborating with the Ministry of Regional Development, under Engr Abubakar Momoh, to harmonise regional development master plans within the framework of a National Policy on Regional Development.
He identified the Partners for Sustainable Development Forum, established under the NDDC Act, as a key platform for coordinating interventions by government agencies, state and local governments and development partners.
The NDDC boss cited the 27-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, which connects 14 communities through 99 culverts and 14 bridges, as an example of the benefits of collaboration.
The project was executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company. He also highlighted the Commission’s memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria LNG Limited for the Bonny Ring Road and the 3.65-kilometre Okrika-Borikiri Road, featuring three bridges, in Rivers State.
On youth restiveness, Ogbuku said the Commission was convinced that providing viable economic alternatives was more effective than relying solely on security measures to discourage criminality.
He argued that young people needed access to jobs, skills acquisition, agriculture, business opportunities and finance to make legitimate livelihoods more attractive than illicit activities.
“You cannot simply tell a young person to drop the arms without providing an alternative pathway to dignity and livelihood. That alternative may be a farm, a skill, a business, access to finance or a job,” he said.
Ogbuku further disclosed that the Commission had strengthened its corporate governance framework through measurable Key Performance Indicators and the digitisation of internal processes, including e-procurement, electronic contract award letters and the Electronic Memo platform.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the NDDC to complete ongoing projects and introducing a performance bond to strengthen accountability in project delivery.
The managing director also announced the completion of the 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers State, linking Khana and Andoni local government areas, which he said would be named the President Tinubu Bridge.
He called for collective responsibility in sustaining peace, urging traditional rulers to serve as peace ambassadors, youth and women’s groups to participate in project monitoring, and state and local governments to work with the Commission as development partners.
He also urged security agencies to recognise development institutions as partners in preventive security, rather than viewing peace-building solely through the lens of enforcement.
Earlier, the Commandant of the National Institute for Security Studies, Mr Joseph Odama, said the lecture brought together members of the intelligence and security community, opinion leaders and analysts to explore a new approach to national development.
Odama described Ogbuku as a pragmatic leader whose contributions to the Niger Delta were informed by experience and knowledge.
The NISS Commandant subsequently presented the NDDC managing director with the Distinguished Personality of the Year Award in recognition of his contributions to peace in the region.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to press ahead with its political activities despite Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the party led by former Senate President, David Mark, declaring that there is “no shaking” in its determination to pursue its 2027 presidential ambition.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, said the ADC would challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, describing the ruling as an attempt to weaken the opposition and derail his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, titled ‘The Panic Is Real — Atiku’, urged party supporters to remain resolute, peaceful and focused, insisting that the campaign to rescue Nigeria from economic hardship would continue. He also questioned the timing of the judgment, which came barely 24 hours after thousands of supporters attended the party’s campaign rally in Sokoto State.
According to him, the massive turnout demonstrated Nigerians’ growing appetite for political change and confidence in the ADC’s promise to make life affordable.
“The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. “What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,” he said.
Atiku alleged that the judgment was part of a calculated attempt to undermine his political support in Northern Nigeria and disrupt the momentum generated by the Sokoto rally.
He, however, maintained that his presidential ambition transcended regional boundaries, arguing that the economic challenges confronting Nigerians were not restricted to any particular part of the country.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries,” he said.
The former Vice-President accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of underestimating the strength of his political support by assuming that his appeal was limited to the North.
On the legal controversy, Atiku faulted the reopening of the leadership dispute, citing an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
He said the court had dismissed the challenge to the Mark-led leadership after upholding objections bordering on jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
Atiku questioned why another suit was instituted to revisit the same dispute, describing the latest development as an attempt to circumvent an existing judicial decision. “We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he declared.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday nullified the Mark-led ADC leadership and invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ADC had earlier rejected the judgment and vowed to pursue available legal options, while calling on its members to remain calm and law-abiding.
Reaffirming his determination to sustain the party’s campaign, Atiku said the ruling would not distract the ADC from its mission of offering Nigerians an alternative to the APC-led government.
“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis,” he said.
He urged supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation through house-to-house and door-to-door campaigns, insisting that the party would not be intimidated by the latest judicial setback.
“We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking,” Atiku declared.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended a Rivers State High Court judge, Justice Sobere Biambo, and two other judicial officers for one year without pay, while sanctioning eight others over various acts of judicial misconduct.
The disciplinary measures followed investigations into allegations of abuse of judicial powers, unlawful detention of litigants, disregard for due process and other breaches of judicial ethics.
Justice Biambo was also barred from elevation for three years over his handling of a civil dispute in which he allegedly ordered the arrest of litigants and imposed fines of N300,000 on each of them without following the prescribed contempt proceedings.
The council found that the judge issued bench warrants against the petitioners for allegedly disobeying an interim injunction and subsequently imposed the fines without serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or instituting proper contempt proceedings.
It held that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be summarily tried and punished.
The other judicial officers suspended for one year without pay are Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court and Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.
Justice Kabir was sanctioned for ordering the unlawful detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of court orders without complying with the mandatory contempt procedures.
Similarly, Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended for exceeding his judicial authority by reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court, constituting a committee to review the decision and subsequently assigning the matter to another judge for fresh proceedings.
The NJC held that the action amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, which was subsequently set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.
The council also sanctioned eight other judicial officers, comprising cautions, warning letters and placement on its Watch List.
Those affected include Justices Kayode Agunloye, Bello Kawu, Danjuma A. Oyigbenu, Isa Ebini Kana, Mohammed Zubairu, C. A. Ogbuagor and Chibuike L. Azuama. Justice Agunloye of the FCT High Court was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The council found that he improperly entertained and granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out, while other pending applications, including a request for stay of execution, were yet to be determined.
Justice Kawu, also of the FCT High Court, was directed to receive a warning letter and placed on the council’s Watch List for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, despite being aware of a subsisting remand order issued by another judge of the same court.
The council found that Justice Kawu granted the bail on December 23, 2025, a day before the remand order was due to expire, thereby acting in conflict with the subsisting order.
Two Nasarawa State High Court judges, Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana, were also directed to be issued warning letters for failing to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.
The NJC rejected their argument that the constitutional provision did not apply to appellate courts, noting that they had admitted delivering judgment outside the stipulated period without providing satisfactory explanations for the delay.
Justice Zubairu of the FCT High Court was cautioned and placed on the Watch List for entertaining an application and making orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal. The council held that his conduct amounted to disregard for the appellate court and bordered on insubordination.
Similarly, Justice Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was cautioned for continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for stay of proceedings.
The council found that his actions undermined fair hearing, disregarded due process and violated the hierarchy of courts. Justice Azuama of the Imo State High Court was also cautioned, placed on the Watch List and advised to take his judicial responsibilities more seriously.
The NJC found that he granted an ex parte Garnishee Order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit, thereby causing it substantial losses.
The decisions were taken at the council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, said the council also considered reports on 35 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.
Of the petitions, 24 were dismissed for lack of merit, four were recommended for further investigation, while one was placed in abeyance because the matter was sub judice.
The council further directed that investigations into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court should continue despite the petitioner’s notice of withdrawal.
