Thirty-four lawyers have been disqualified from consideration for appointment as judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria after failing an integrity screening introduced under new guidelines approved by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The integrity test, endorsed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, is aimed at preventing persons of questionable character from being appointed as judicial officers.
The affected lawyers were among 62 candidates earlier shortlisted for elevation to the Federal High Court bench but were dropped following adverse findings arising from petitions submitted against them during the screening process.
Sources at the NJC disclosed that only 28 nominees, who received a clean bill of integrity, will now proceed to appear before the council’s interview panel scheduled for next month.
According to the sources, 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).
In line with established procedures, the FJSC activated the integrity test policy by publishing the names of the shortlisted candidates on September 17, 2025, inviting members of the public to submit information on the nominees’ 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. Following its probe, the PSC reportedly confirmed that the nominee collected ₦1 million in connection with a court matter that passed through her office.
Based on findings from that petition and several others, the FJSC approved only 28 nominations and forwarded their names to the NJC, while the remaining 34 candidates were dropped for failing the integrity test.
The development underscores the NJC’s renewed emphasis on accountability, transparency, and ethical standards in judicial appointments
