The careers of three top judges including the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin division, Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, are hanging by a thread.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended their compulsory retirement and the dismissal of a third – Justice Kabiru M. Auta of the High Court of Justice, Kano State with immediate effect -for official misconduct.

Auta is also to be handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 1, Kano State, for prosecution.

They are to proceed on suspension immediately pending the acceptance of the NJC recommendations by President Mohammadu Buhari (in the case of Justice Tsamiya), Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (in the case of Justice Umezulike) and Kano Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (in the case of Justice Auta).

The acting Director (Information) of NJC Soji Oye, broke the news in a statement Friday.

Tsamiya is said to have abused his office after according to the NJC, he accepted bribe in respect of a 2015 election case pending before an appeal panel in which he was a member.

The council indicted Umezulike for conducting himself in a manner that conflicted with his position as a judicial officer, while Auta is said to have collected money from a contractor, promising to facilitate the award of a contract to him.

He failed to deliver on his promise.

Oye said the decision was reached at the last NJC meeting held on September 29, 2016.