The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Thursday disowned a circulating report alleging that 34 lawyers failed an integrity test and were consequently dropped from consideration for appointment as judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

In a press statement dated December 31, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Esq., the Council described the report as inaccurate and unauthorised, stressing that it did not reflect the true position of events in the judicial appointment process.

According to the NJC, the processes referenced in the media reports were conducted entirely by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), and no decision or action has yet been taken by the NJC in respect of the candidates concerned.

The Council clarified that while some candidates were discontinued at the FJSC level due to adverse findings arising from petitions submitted against them, others did not progress further simply because they failed to attain the required qualifying scores to advance to the interview stage before the NJC.

The NJC emphasised that there is no stand-alone or newly introduced integrity test whose failure automatically disqualifies candidates en masse, contrary to the impression conveyed by the viral reports.

The statement further warned that the publication of inaccurate and speculative details could mislead the public and unjustly damage the reputations of candidates who participated in the process in good faith.

In view of the foregoing, the Council disclosed that it has commenced internal investigations to ascertain the source of the unauthorised press statement and will take appropriate steps to safeguard the integrity and credibility of its procedures.

The NJC reassured Nigerians of its commitment to transparency, fairness, due process and the highest standards of judicial integrity, and urged media practitioners to always seek clarification from authorised channels before reporting on sensitive institutional matters.