News
NJC Suspends Two Judges for One Year Without Pay
Rejects Appeals by Eight Retired Imo Judges
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has imposed fresh sanctions on judicial officers found guilty of misconduct, including the suspension of two High Court judges for one year without pay, while upholding the compulsory retirement of eight judges of the Imo State Judiciary.
The decisions were taken at the NJC’s 111th Meeting held on Tuesday, May 13, 2026, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Suspended Judges
Hon. Justice Ibrahim D. Shekarau of the Nasarawa State High Court was suspended for one year without pay over a petition filed by Oluwafunke Obale Ozozoma in Suit No. NSD/MG56M/2025. The NJC found that the judge granted an ex-parte order directing the transfer of N7 million from the petitioner’s bank account on the same day the application was filed and heard. The council ruled that there was no pending substantive suit, and the judge failed to verify the claims, acting in bad faith and breaching Rules 3.1, 3.3, and 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers (2016).
Similarly, Hon. Justice Edward A. E. Okpe of the Federal Capital Territory High Court was suspended for one year without pay following a petition by Mr. Sunday Emmanuel Oso in a matrimonial case (Suit No. FCT/HC/PET/529/2024). He was found to have granted an ex-parte application without proper notice to the petitioner and proceeded with committal proceedings in breach of fair hearing rules.
Imo State Judges
The NJC rejected appeals by eight compulsorily retired Imo State judges who were sanctioned for age falsification. The affected justices are:
- Hon. Justice B.C. Iheka
- Hon. Justice K. A. Leaweanya
- Hon. Justice Okereke Chinyere Ngozi
- Hon. Justice Innocent Chidi Ibeawuchi
- Hon. Justice Ofoha Uchenna
- Hon. Justice Everyman Eleanya
- Hon. Justice Rosemond Ibe
- Hon. Justice T. N. Nzeukwu
The Council, however, reinstated Hon. Justice T. I. Nze of the Imo State Customary Court of Appeal after he presented fresh and authentic evidence that warranted a review of his earlier retirement.
Other Decisions
During the meeting, the NJC considered 13 investigation reports and 98 petitions. It dismissed 73 petitions for lack of merit, want of diligent prosecution, or being time-barred. Four judges were cautioned, one received a final warning, and 11 petitions were sent for further investigation.
In a notable ruling, a petition against Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali of the Rivers State High Court concerning the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis was dismissed as unsubstantiated. The petitioner was recommended for referral to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
Several petitioners and lawyers faced sanctions for filing frivolous or reckless petitions, including referrals to the Inspector-General of Police and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. One serial petitioner was barred from further submissions to the NJC.
The Council also commended nine judges for outstanding performance in the 2024 and 2025 legal years and issued 256 query letters to judicial officers over performance issues.
These actions underscore the NJC’s continued commitment to upholding discipline, integrity, and accountability within the Nigerian judiciary.
News
Goodluck Jonathan’s son graduates from UK varsity
The former president and his wife have two children, Ariwera Jonathan and Aruabi Jonathan.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has celebrated the graduation of his son, Ariwera Jonathan, from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
Jonathan shared the news on his official Facebook page on Thursday, where he expressed pride in his son’s accomplishment and extended his best wishes for the future.
He wrote: “Congratulations to our son, Ariwera, on your graduation from Manchester Metropolitan University. Your mother and I are proud of your hard work. Wishing you the very best and a successful future ahead.”
The announcement was accompanied by photographs from the graduation ceremony showing Jonathan, his wife, Patience Jonathan, and their son.
The former president and his wife have two children, Ariwera Jonathan and Aruabi Jonathan.
News
Lagos approves harmonised 2026/2027 academic calendar for public, private schools
The approved calendar shows that the 2026/2027 academic session will commence on Monday, September 14, 2026, after a two-day Staff Professional Development (SPD) programme scheduled for September 10 and 11, 2026.
The Lagos State Government has approved a harmonised academic calendar for all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state for the 2026/2027 academic session, aligning both categories of schools under a single schedule.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, in a statement published on the official X account of the Lagos State Government on Thursday.
The approved calendar shows that the 2026/2027 academic session will commence on Monday, September 14, 2026, after a two-day Staff Professional Development (SPD) programme scheduled for September 10 and 11, 2026.
The first term will run until December 18, 2026, followed by a vacation from December 21, 2026, to January 8, 2027. The second term will begin on January 11, 2027, and end on April 16, 2027, while the third term will run from May 3 to July 30, 2027, with the long vacation commencing on August 2, 2027.
The move formalises a unified academic timetable for both public and private schools, replacing the previous practice where schools could operate on different calendars.
It is expected to improve coordination and consistency across the state’s basic and secondary education system while providing parents, teachers, and students with a predictable academic schedule.
The calendar allocates 64 school days for the first term, 61 school days for the second term and 57 school days for the third term, bringing the total number of instructional days for the 2026/2027 academic session to 182 days.
News
2027: IGP Orders Nationwide Mop-Up of Illegal Arms From Citizens
Disu emphasised we have to talk to members of the public, we have to do advocacy… And most importantly, so that we can do civil disarmament; civil disarmament of people with illegal arms in their possession.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has ordered a nationwide civil disarmament operation, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu issued the directive during a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja by the Director – General of the National Centre For The Control Of Small Arms and Light Weapons, DIG Johnson Kokomo (rtd).
While expressing worries that illegally-manufactured small arms and light weapons were being transported across the country by road, and water, the IGP said operations aimed at dismantling arms manufacturing factories, as well as black markets, had been intensified.
Disu emphasised we have to talk to members of the public, we have to do advocacy… And most importantly, so that we can do civil disarmament; civil disarmament of people with illegal arms in their possession.
” We need to talk about it, we need to let people know that it is not only us putting on uniforms that are security operatives. “Everybody is the police, and the police are the com- munity, and the community are the police.“
So, everybody should know (that) anybody carry- ing illegal arms around, is going to use it on another citizen of the country”.
He continued: “So, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we recover all arms.
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