34 Lawyers Fail NJC Integrity Test For Appointment As FHC Judges

A total of 34 lawyers nominated by the the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) for appointment as Judges of the Federal High Court, have failed the public integrity and suitability test for judicial officers.

The 34 who were among the list of 62 lawyers that was published by the FJSC on September 17, 2025 for potential appointment, were knocked out of the race following a floodgates of public petitions challenging their integrity, suitability and reputation.

According to the report the FJSC has only shortlisted 28 nominees who are expected to face an interview panel of the National Judicial Council in January next year.

The integrity test is part of the new guidelines approved by the National Judicial Council (NJC) under the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to eliminate persons with doubtful character from being appointed as judicial officers after passing the Computer Based Test (CBT) examination conducted by by the Federal High Court consequent upon which their names were forwarded to FJSC.

However, in line with the laid down procedure, the FJSC was said to have applied the policy of integrity test endorsed by the current Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on public feedback on nominees by publishing the names of the 62.

The publication of nominees names on September 17, 2025, invited members of the public to submit feedback on nominees’ integrity, reputation and suitability for judicial appointment, hence in one of the petitions from public feedback, a nominee, who is a serving female police officer, was accused of obtaining N1million bribes in the discharge of her official duties and was referred to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for investigation.

The petition was dated September 22, 2025 and addressed to the Executive Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission, by the law firm of Douglas, Abbas and Gideon, on behalf of their client.

At the end of the investigation, the Police Service Commission found as a fact that the female nominee actually demanded and received N1m bribe in the course of a Court matter that passed through her office.

The PSC investigation report dated February 3, 2025, and signed by its Chairman, DIG, Hashimu Salihu Argungu (Rtd), recommended suspension of the female officer alongside a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) from office in order to give room for a smooth investigation process without interference, in line with Federal Civil Service rule 100406.

The commission equally directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and possibly prosecute them.

Armed with the established facts of the petition against the female nominee and several others, the FJSC ended up upholding the nomination of only 28 names, forwarding same to the NJC and dropping the remaining 34 for failure to scale the integrity test.

When contacted for comments on the matter, the NJC Director of Information, Mrs Kemi Ogedegbe confirmed that the Council would meet between January 13 and 14 to consider issues in the process of the shortlisted candidates for appointments as Judges of the Federal High Court.

The Director who refused detailed comments on petitions against some nominees insisted that the NJC is fully determined not to lower the entry point bar no matter who is involved.

“You are all aware, like the general public too, that transparency and judicial integrity have remained a top priority for the Kekere-Ekun led administration. There is no going back on that. Merit is the only factor that would come to play during the interview and only those found suitable would have their ways “, she said.

PR/Garry Ochigbo