No fewer than 34 lawyers seeking appointment as judges of the Federal High Court have been disqualified after failing a rigorous integrity screening introduced by the National Judicial Council.
The affected lawyers were among 62 candidates who initially scaled the Computer-Based Test conducted by the Federal High Court and were subsequently nominated for further consideration.
However, only 28 applicants have now been cleared to proceed to the interview stage following adverse findings arising from petitions submitted by members of the public.
The integrity screening is part of new guidelines approved by the NJC under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, aimed at preventing persons of questionable character from ascending the Bench.
Investigations revealed that the NJC, through the Federal Judicial Service Commission, subjected the nominees to public scrutiny after publishing their names in September 2025 to invite feedback on their reputation, conduct and suitability for judicial office.
Sources at the Council disclosed that multiple petitions, some backed by documentary evidence, were received against several nominees.
One of the most damning cases involved a female nominee accused of demanding and receiving a N1 million bribe in the course of a judicial matter.
Following an investigation by the Police Service Commission, the allegation was reportedly confirmed, leading to her immediate disqualification alongside other candidates found wanting.
“After evaluating the petitions and investigation reports, only 28 nominees were adjudged to have passed the integrity test and were forwarded to the NJC. The remaining 34 were dropped,” a senior judiciary source said.
The cleared candidates are expected to appear before the NJC interview panel in January 2026, ahead of the Council’s statutory meeting scheduled for mid-January.
Confirming the development, the Director of Information of the NJC, Mrs Kemi Ogedegbe, said the Council would meet between January 13 and 14 to consider the appointments, stressing that standards would not be compromised.
“Transparency and judicial integrity remain non-negotiable under the Kekere-Ekun administration. Merit will determine who eventually succeeds. There is no lowering of the bar, regardless of who is involved,” she said.
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