Malami’s interim bail: NJC issues warning to judge over conflicting court order
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has issued a warning to Justice Bello Kawu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court for granting interim bail to former Attorney General Abubakar Malami while a remand order from another judge was still active.
Additionally, the NJC has placed Justice Kawu on its Watch List for six months, following an investigation into a petition concerning his management of the bail application.
According to a statement from the NJC, an investigation committee determined that Justice Kawu was aware of the existing remand order when he granted interim bail on December 23, 2025. This remand order, issued by a different judge, was set to expire at midnight on December 24, 2025.
The committee concluded that the decision to grant bail a day prior to the expiration of the remand order was inconsistent with the existing court mandate. After reviewing the findings, the NJC accepted the committee’s report and decided to issue a formal warning to Justice Kawu.
This action follows a thorough examination of the petition and the subsequent investigative findings.
