Mass Failure: 34 Lawyers Fail Judges' Appointment Exam for Federal High Court
- Thirty-four lawyers were disqualified from the Federal High Court appointment process after failing a newly introduced integrity test
- The National Judicial Council confirmed that only 28 nominees cleared the test and will face interviews next month
- Petitions, including a bribery case involving a female nominee, led to the removal of candidates deemed unsuitable
Thirty-four lawyers were removed from the process of being appointed judges to the Federal High Court of Nigeria after failing an integrity test introduced under new guidelines approved by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
According to Daily Trust, the integrity test, which was endorsed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, was designed to eliminate persons of doubtful character from being appointed as judicial officers.
Source: Twitter
Petitions against nominees
The affected lawyers were among 62 applicants earlier shortlisted for the Federal High Court bench but were disqualified following petitions submitted against them during the screening. Sources at the NJC disclosed that only 28 nominees who received a clean bill of health during the test would now appear before the council’s interview panel next month.
A source explained that the 62 applicants had earlier passed the Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted by the Federal High Court, after which their names were forwarded to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
Public feedback on integrity
In line with established procedures, the FJSC applied the integrity test policy by publishing the names of the 62 nominees on September 17, 2025, inviting members of the public to submit feedback on their integrity, reputation and suitability for judicial appointment.
One of the petitions alleged that a female nominee demanded and received bribes in the course of her official duties. The matter was referred to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for investigation. At the conclusion of its probe, the PSC reportedly established that the nominee demanded and received a bribe of N1m in relation to a court matter that passed through her office.
NJC receives final list
Based on findings from that petition and several others, the FJSC upheld only 28 nominations, forwarding their names to the NJC, while dropping the remaining 34 for failing the integrity test.
This development marked a significant step in the NJC’s efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in the appointment of judicial officers in Nigeria.
Speaking with Legit.ng, AbdulRasheed Hussain, a policy analyst based in Nigeria, said the mass disqualification of lawyers raises serious concern:
“The disqualification of 34 lawyers from the Federal High Court appointment process exposes both the depth of Nigeria’s judicial credibility crisis and the inadequacy of past vetting systems. While the NJC’s integrity test is a welcome reform, the sheer number of failed candidates suggests that individuals of questionable character had long been allowed to rise unchecked within the legal profession. This raises serious concerns about oversight, transparency, and the culture of patronage in judicial appointments. Unless the process is institutionalized with consistent monitoring and accountability, the integrity test risks being a one‑off gesture rather than a transformative safeguard for justice.”
Source: Getty Images
List of 57 SAN honourees announced
Legit.ng earlier reported that at its 169th plenary session held in Abuja, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) announced the elevation of 57 distinguished legal professionals to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The session was chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The LPPC confirmed the appointment of 56 advocates and one academic, signifying its commitment to recognising legal excellence. The sole academic appointee this year is Professor Chima Ubanyionwu, who joins the elite group for his contributions to legal scholarship.
Among the 56 advocates are prominent legal practitioners such as the attorney general of Abia State and former Chairman of the NBA Lagos branch, Ikechukwu Uwanna; the immediate past attorney general of Nasarawa State and current Secretary to the State Government, Labaran Magaji; and the attorney general of Osun State, Oluwole Jimi-Bada.
Source: Legit.ng
