NJC Suspends Nasarawa Judge For One Year Over Illegal Detention Of Litigant

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court for one year without pay for ordering the arrest and detention of a litigant for 58 days without complying with the prescribed procedures for contempt proceedings.

The Council also barred the judge from being considered for elevation to a higher court for three years.

The sanctions were approved at the NJC’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, the Council said it reviewed nine investigation reports relating to petitions against judicial officers over their conduct in various cases.

On Justice Kabir, the NJC said its Investigation Committee established that she ordered the arrest and detention of a litigant over alleged disobedience of court orders without issuing and serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or commencing the appropriate contempt proceedings.

The committee also determined that the alleged contempt was committed outside the judge’s presence, making summary trial and punishment unlawful.

It further concluded that the judge’s action breached the litigant’s right to fair hearing.

“The Investigation Committee found that she ordered the litigant’s arrest and detention for alleged disobedience of court orders without the issuance and service of the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or the institution of 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 Committee also found that the action violated the litigant’s right to fair hearing,” the statement said.

Following the findings, the NJC adopted the committee’s recommendation to suspend Justice Kabir without pay for one year and prevent her nomination for elevation for three years.

Forms 48 and 49 are statutory notices required in contempt proceedings. They inform an alleged offender of the disobedience of a court order and warn of the consequences of failing to comply.