The National Judicial Council (NJC) has formally reprimanded Justice Bello Kawu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for judicial misconduct regarding the handling of a bail application for former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The disciplinary action stems from Justice Kawu’s decision to grant interim bail to the former minister, which the council ruled directly conflicted with an existing remand order previously issued by a colleague on the same bench.
According to the details released by the regulatory body on Wednesday, the circumstances surrounding the bail grant raised serious procedural concerns. The initial remand order, which was validly issued, was scheduled to remain in effect until midnight on December 24, 2025. However, records indicate that Justice Kawu intervened and issued an interim bail order on December 23, 2025, essentially bypassing the active judicial directive.
An investigation conducted by the council’s internal committee established that Justice Kawu was fully apprised of the subsisting remand order at the time he presided over the application. By ignoring the existing mandate of a coordinate court, the judge was found to have acted in a manner inconsistent with established judicial decorum and legal procedure.
Upon review of the investigation report, the NJC upheld the committee’s findings and resolved to apply administrative sanctions. Consequently, Justice Kawu has been issued a formal warning letter to serve as a deterrent against future procedural lapses. Furthermore, the council has placed the judge on its official Watch List for a period of six months, during which his conduct and performance will be subject to heightened scrutiny.
Source: NaijaProbe