The National Judicial Council NJC has suspended the Grand Kadi of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal, Mohammed Sani Salihu, for one year without pay over an abuse of judicial powers.
According to a report by Punch Newspaper, the disciplinary action was taken during the Council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The NJC found that the Jigawa Grand Kadi exceeded his authority by reopening a judgment that had already been validly delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court.
Investigations revealed that Salihu set up a committee to review the judgment and then assigned the matter to a Higher Sharia Court judge. This judge went on to receive fresh evidence and deliver a completely new judgment. The NJC explained that this process was effectively an illegal appeal against a valid court decision, which was later set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.
The Council ruled that Salihu’s actions violated Rule 3.3.1 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, 2016. Consequently, he was handed a one-year suspension without pay.
He was also one of three judges sanctioned alongside Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir (Nasarawa State) and Justice Sobere Biambo (Rivers State) during the meeting.
