The National Judicial Council has dismissed a viral report claiming that 34 lawyers failed an “integrity test” and were dropped from the Federal High Court bench race.
In a statement dated December 31, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, the Council described the report as inaccurate and unauthorised.
According to the NJC, the events cited in the report occurred solely at the level of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
It stressed that the Council itself has not decide on any of the candidates mentioned.
The NJC explained that some applicants were discontinued by the FJSC due to adverse findings from petitions.
Others exited the process simply because they failed to meet the qualifying score to advance further.
“The report is inaccurate and does not reflect what transpired at the FJSC level,” the Council stated.
It added that no integrity screening or elimination was conducted by the NJC.
The clarification followed media reports alleging that 34 nominees, including a police officer, failed integrity checks.
Those reports claimed only 28 of 62 applicants passed the screening after a computer-based test.
Saleh warned that speculative reporting could mislead the public and unfairly tarnish candidates’ reputations.
He said participants engaged in the process in good faith and deserved fair representation.
The NJC also disclosed it had launched an internal investigation to trace the source of the unauthorised statement.
Appropriate steps, it said, would be taken to protect the credibility of judicial appointments.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness, and due process.
It urged journalists to verify sensitive information through authorised channels before publication.
