▪︎ Constitutes Medical Board to ascertain the health status of a Judge
▪︎ Issues warning letter to one Judge and advice letter to another
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has directed the three Judges of coordinate jurisdiction who granted Exparte Orders over the same case with the same subject matter to appear before a special Investigation Committee constituted by the Council in order to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for such act, a statement by the council’s Director of Information, Mr. Solicitors Oye, has said.
The statement did not name the judges, but recall that in recent weeks Chief Judges of seven states were summoned to Abuja by Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad over conflicting orders from their jurisdictions over political matters that put the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Uche Secondus, in a quandary over his office. There were also orders in the Anambra All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) leadership and choice of Professor Charles Soludo, among others. In one instance, a court in Delta State restrained the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from performing.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also raised eyebrows over the conduct of judges and lawyers in the imbroglio.
Other resolutions of the Council which met in Abuja between Wednesday and Thursday, according to the statement, are:
Council resolved to set up a Medical Board in order ascertain the health status of Hon. Justice Amina Yaroson of Kaduna State Customary Court of Appeal.
Council also considered the Reports of its Investigation Committee and decided to issue a warning letter to Hon. Justice Sobere Biambo of High Court of Rivers State for descending into the Arena of conflict in a matrimonial Suit No: OHC/IMC/2018.
Council at its Plenary considered the Reports of the two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees (PCAC) on the petitions written against 18 Judicial Officers and on the recommendation of the Committee, issued a letter of advice to Hon. Justice Elias O. Abua of Cross River State High Court to in future be wary of granting an Order staying the execution of judgement which appeared executory in nature as the one he granted in Suit No. HC/MSC/67/2019.
Council however, dismissed the petitions written against Hon. Justices I. E. Ekwu and Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Justices O. O. Ogunjobi, S. B. A. Candide-Johnson and S. A. Onigbanjo of High Court of Lagos State, Hon. Justices Chiwendu Nwogu, S. C. Amadi and A. U. Kingsley Chuku, for either lacking in merit, subjudice or statute barred.
Other petition dismissed for the same reasons were those written against Hon. Justice I. K. Banu, Chief Judge, of Adamawa, Hon. Justice A. L. Lagre, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Adamawa, Justice Felibus B. Andetur, Chief Judge, Taraba State, Hon. Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi of Ondo State, High Court, Hon. Justice Nse Emeka Daniel of Akwa-Ibom State High Court and Justice H. T. D. Gwadah of Kaduna State High Court.
Council however decided not to consider the petition written against Hon. Justice I. U. Bello as he had already retired from service.
The Plenary of the Council also considered the Report of the Interview Committee and agreed to recommend 12 candidates as Heads of Court, 18 candidates as High Court Judges, six candidates as Kadis of Sharia Courts of Appeal and one candidate as Customary Court of Appeal Judge.
The Notifications of retirement of 22 Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and Notifications of death of three Judges of States were also considered by the NJC Plenary.
