Nigeria, June 27 -- The National Judicial Council (NJC) has barred a National Industrial Court judge, Isaac Essien, from elevation to a higher court for three years over misconduct in handling a case involving the Nasarawa State Government.

The decision was part of several taken at the council's 109th meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja. The meeting was presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and chairperson of the council, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

A statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday by the NJC's Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, said Mr Essien acted improperly by ordering the confiscation of over N1 billion belonging to the Nasarawa State Government and its local governments. This, it noted, ...