The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed recent media reports suggesting that 34 lawyers failed an “integrity test” and were automatically disqualified from appointment as Federal High Court (FHC) judges.

In a statement in Abuja, NJC Secretary Ahmed Saleh clarified that all screening and selection processes occur at the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) level, and the NJC has not yet taken any action or made decisions regarding the candidates.

Saleh explained that while some applicants were discontinued during the FJSC screening process—either due to adverse findings from petitions or failure to meet the qualifying score for interviews—there is no standalone “integrity test” as reported.

“The council emphasises that the judicial appointment process is structured, merit-driven, and multi-layered, including written examinations, performance benchmarks, background verification, petition review where applicable, and interviews conducted according to established guidelines,” the statement read.

The NJC expressed concern that inaccurate media reports could mislead the public and unfairly damage the reputations of candidates who participated in good faith. The council has begun internal investigations to identify the source of the unauthorized statements and reiterated its commitment to transparency, fairness, and judicial integrity.

“Media practitioners are urged to seek clarification through authorised channels before publishing reports on sensitive institutional matters,” Saleh added.