NJC BEGINS PROBE OF 2 CJS, 13 OTHERS, OKAYS SACK OF JUSTICE IBRAHIM ANKA FOR N200, 000 BRIBE

ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Judicial Council, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen at its 83rd Meeting constituted 15 Committees to investigate various allegations in petitions written against 15 Judicial Officers, including two Chief Judges.

In a statement, Director of Information, NJC, Mr. Soji Oye said the council took the decision after considering reports of the two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees, on 46 Petitions written against Judicial Officers in the Federal and State Judiciaries.

The council dismissed a total of 31 petitions, 29 of which it found unmeritorious, and the remaining 2 written against Hon. Mr. Justice J. T. Tsoho of the Federal High Court and Hon. Mr. Justice O. O. Akeredolu, Acting Chief Judge of Ondo State were withdrawn at the instance of the petitioners.

“Al-Sagr National Insurance Company who wrote against Hon. Mr. Justice Tsoho withdrew his petition since the Hon. Judge had delivered the Ruling in his case. Chief Raheem A. Badmus who wrote against Hon. Justice Akeredolu also voluntarily withdrew his petition for personal reasons”, the NJC said.

The Council welcomed as good development, a letter from Zamfara State Government approving the recommendation of the National Judicial Council for the compulsory removal of Hon. Mr. Justice Musa Ibrahim Anka from office for allegedly receiving a bribe of N200, 000 from one Zubairu Abdumalik in order to deliver judgement in his favour.

“The recommendation was made to the Zamfara State Government by Council in 2011”, the NJC said.

The Council considered and found worthy of further investigation, the petition written by Azi A. Phillip on behalf of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Plateau State Chapter, accusing Hon. Justice P. D. Damulak, the immediate past Chief Judge of Plateau State of bias, for failure to make his judgment in Suit No. PLD/J/236/16 delivered on 4th November, 2016 available to him till the time he wrote the petition.

Council however decided not to constitute an Investigative Committee to look into the matter, because the Hon. Chief Judge had already retired from service and therefore no longer in the employment of the National Judicial Council.

It also considered and dismissed petitions written against Hon. Justice Mr. L. T. C. Eruba – High Court of Justice, Abia State; andHon. Grand Kadi Abdullahi Waiya – Sharia’h Court of Appeal, Kano State for lack of merit.

It also decided to issue two letters of advice to Hon. Mr. Justice M. A. Dada of the Lagos State High Court of Justice and Hon. Mr. Justice Chukwudi Charles Okaa of the Anambra State High Court for violation of extant laws in the course of their judicial duties based on petition written against their Lordships by Dayo Adamolekun, Esq. & Ridwanulah Olanite, Esq. and Reverend F. U. Ekavhiare & Associates respectively.

Council agreed to report Adesina Ogunlana, Esq., to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (L.P.D.C.) for misconduct, for the use of uncouth language in a petition written to the National Judicial Council against Hon. Justice O. O. Atilade, the immediate past Chief Judge of Lagos State.