27 judges to face NJC probe panels over alleged misconduct

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has constituted four probe panels to investigate 27 high court judges in the country over various allegations of judicial misconduct brought against them.

The Council also issued letter of advice
to Justice O. M. Olagunju of Oyo State High Court to be circumspect as a judicial officer before acting, even in the most challenging situation.

Justice Olagunju was said to have used uncouth language in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, challenging the Council’s decision and its Policy Direction on appointment of the President Court of the Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State.

At its 106th meeting presided over by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, the NJC considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee on 22 petitions written against 27 judicial officers of the Federal and State High Courts.

Based on the report of the preliminary committee, the Council set up four committees to investigate allegations in the petitions that were found meritorious.

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A statement by the NJC Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye on Friday in Abuja however said that the remaining 18 petitions were discountenanced for lacking in merit, abandoned or being subjudice.

The discountenanced petitions are against Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, President Court of Appeal, and Justices E. O. Williams Dawodu, B. A. Georgewill, Yargata Timpar, S. D. Samchi, Aisha B. Aliyu, A. A. Aderibigbe M. L. Shuaibu, H. A. O. Abiru and Abdulazeez Waziri all of the Court of Appeal.

Others are Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge, Federal High Court, and Justices Z. B. Abubakar, James. Kolawole Omotosho, Sunday B. Onu all of the Federal High Court and Justice Okon E. Abang when he was serving at the Federal High Court.

The rest are Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Justice Babagana Karumi of the High Court Borno State, Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of the High Court of Niger State, Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of Osun State High Court and Justice Aisha B. Aliyu of Nasarawa State High Court.

Besides, the NJC placed five judges on its pre-sanction watchlist register for poor performance. They would be recommended to the Council for appropriate sanction if they do not improve on their performance.

CJN, Justice Ariwoola at the meeting, being the last one before his retirement, appreciated the cooperation he received from members of the Council and the Council’s Secretariat and implored them to extend same to his successor.

Members of the Council in return eulogized the outgoing CJN and wished him good health in retirement.