Buhari’s aide describes recall of six judges as a huge disappointment

Okoi Obla, special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecution, has described the recall of six judges accused of corruption as “a huge disappointment”.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) recalled the judges on Saturday, directing them to “resume their judicial duties with effect from June 7”.

But speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, Obla said the council’s action gives the impression that NJC was protecting some people.

He said the council ought to have heard the petitions against the judges.

“The impression is that they are trying to protect some people because there are petitions against these judges, half are criminal allegations against them, why has the NJC not looked into these petitions,” Obla said.

“They just have to suspend them, they are going to be charged to court I can assure that.

“I don’t want to be speculative but I’m assuring that these judges will be charged to court and I am also calling on NJC to hear petitions against these judges, apart from the criminal proceedings we have filed against them, they should go ahead hear the petitions against these judges, otherwise Nigerians will want to think that they want to protect some people.

“The judges I have mentioned them, their names have been released there is an appeal against all of them, as I have said it is a huge disappointment because the fight against corruption is not the fight of President Muhammadu Buhari, it’s not for the executive branch of government… the judiciary, the legislature and the executive should work together, should partner, if we do not clean up our judiciary, foreign investors will not come into the country.”

Obla expressed fears that Nigerians may no longer have confidence in judiciary as they will prefer to take matters into their own hands which could be dangerous.

“Nigerians will not have confidence in the judiciary, we are going to have a situation where Nigerians will take to self-help. They will not go to court again, they will prefer to settle scores and it will be dangerous,” he said.

The recalled judges are: John Okoro of the supreme court; Uwani Aji, court of appeal; Hydiazira Nganjiwa, federal high court; Musa Kurya, federal high court, Adeniyi Ademola, federal high court and Agbadu James Fishim, National Industrial Court of Nigeria.