Public Petitions Knock 34 Lawyers Out Of Federal High Court Judgeship Race
A renewed push for judicial integrity is already reshaping Nigeria’s bench, as public scrutiny proves decisive in the selection of Federal High Court judges.
No fewer than 34 lawyers nominated for appointment as Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria have been disqualified after failing the integrity test introduced by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The process, approved under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, aims to remove candidates of questionable character from the judiciary.
The affected lawyers were among 62 candidates who initially scaled theComputer-Basedd Test (CBT) conducted by the Federal High Court.
However, following the publication of their names on September 17, 2025, members of the public were invited to submit feedback on their integrity, reputation and suitability.
Credible petitions submitted during the exercise reportedly led to the disqualification of more than half of the nominees.
One petition, in particular, accused a female nominee of demanding and receiving a ₦1 million bribe in the course of her official duties.
An investigation by the Police Service Commission upheld the allegation, further strengthening the resolve of the screening bodies.
Consequently, only 28 nominees emerged with a clean bill of health and have been forwarded to the NJC for the final stage of the process.
The shortlisted candidates are expected to face the NJC interview panel ahead of the Council’s meeting scheduled for January 13-14, 2026.
Confirming the development, the NJC Director of Information, Mrs Kemi Ogedegbe, said the Council remains unwavering in its commitment to transparency, merit and judicial integrity, stressing that “there is no going back on raising the bar.”
The outcome marks a significant test of the Kekere-Ekun administration’s pledge to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system through accountability and openness.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawgaEL5vKA9Y5XTFg0n