34 Federal High Court Judge Nominees Fail Integrity Test
No fewer than 34 lawyers nominated for appointment as Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (FHC) have failed the integrity test and have been dropped from the race.
The integrity test is part of the new guidelines introduced by the National Judicial Council (NJC) under Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, aimed at screening out persons of questionable character from judicial appointments.
The 34 legal practitioners were among 62 nominees for the high court bench but were removed following petitions against them during the integrity test.
Reliable sources at the NJC told Daily Post that only 28 nominees, who passed the integrity assessment, will face the Council’s interview panel next month.
The source explained that all 62 applicants had previously passed the Federal High Court’s Computer-Based Test (CBT), after which their names were forwarded to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
In line with procedure, the FJSC applied the integrity test, which involves public feedback on nominees.
The names of the 62 applicants were published on September 17, 2025, to allow members of the public to comment on their integrity, reputation, and suitability for judicial office.
One petition against a female nominee alleged that she accepted bribes while performing her official duties.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) investigated and confirmed that she had demanded and received one million Naira in a court matter. Based on this and other petitions, the FJSC upheld the nomination of only 28 applicants and dropped the remaining 34 for failing the integrity test.
The 28 shortlisted nominees are expected to be presented to the NJC at its meeting in January 2026.
According to sources, the interview panel for the nominees will take place days before the Council meeting, which is scheduled for the second week of the month.
When contacted, NJC Director of Information, Mrs Kemi Ogedegbe, confirmed that the Council will meet between January 13 and 14 to consider the shortlisted candidates.
She said the interviews would likely hold on Monday and Tuesday before the meeting on Wednesday and Thursday.
Ogedegbe emphasised that the NJC is committed to maintaining high standards, regardless of who is involved.
“Transparency and judicial integrity remain a top priority under the Kekere-Ekun administration. Merit is the only factor that will determine appointment, and only those deemed suitable will succeed,” she said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
