Group petitions Buhari over NJC’s recommendation of Abba-Aji as supreme court judge

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), a non-governmental organisation, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to forward the name of  Uwani Abba-Aji, justice of the court of appeal, to the senate for confirmation as justice of the supreme court.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had on Friday recommended Abba-Aji to Buhari for appointment as justice of the apex court.

CSNAC, in a petition signed by Olanrewaju Suraju, its chairman, said Abba Aji is one of the judges under investigation over alleged corruption, thus not befitting to head the apex court.

Abba-Aji was among the judges suspended by the NJC in November 2016 over allegations of corruption.

He was, however, recalled seven months later, alongside six other judges.

But CSNAC asked Buhari to withhold the submission of Abba-Aji’s name to the senate pending when he is cleared by the NJC of the corruption charges brought against him.

The petition reads: “Following the 87th meeting of the National Judicial Council held on the 3rd and 4thOctober, 2018 and the subsequent media publication of the press statement issued by the National Judicial Council with respect to its recommendation of Hon. Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, (JCA) as Justice of the Supreme Court, we hereby write as a Civil Society Organization to express our reservation and opposition tothe said appointment and recommendation on the basis that the said Justice of the Court of Appeal is one of the judges under investigation by security agencies.

“A publication of the Saharareporters, an online newspaper dated the 16th October, 2016 featured a detailed report titled ‘Names of Nigerian Judges Under Investigation Revealed’ wherein it revealed that a list of top Nigerian Judges under investigation by security agencies as contained in a confidential memo forwarded to your good office was obtained by the media outfit. The said list was said to have contained names of judges accused of accepting bribes as well as other acts of corruption.

“According to the aforementioned publication, Justice Abba-Aji was implicated in the Rickey Tarfa bribe scandal for reportedly receiving N8,000,000.00 (Eight Million Naira only) from Mr. Tarfa and on that account was then dropped from the list of judges recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court.

“We are thus shocked and utterly dismayed that in this current dispensation touted as having zero tolerance for corruption, there is an ongoing attempt to smuggle the said Justice into the sacred and most revered Supreme Court without proper investigation of the bribery and corruption allegation against her by the National Judicial Council or her clearance by the law enforcement agency of all allegations against her, bothering on corruption.”

The group said if Abba-Aji’s  name is forwarded to the senate, “we shall not hesitate to deploy all legitimate means to challenge the nomination.”

It added that it will be a ridicule of Buhari’s anti-corruption fight if Abba-Aji is appointed to head the supreme court.

“We believe her confirmation as Supreme Court Justice will be in high distaste and portray the National Judicial Council and by the extension this government’current anti-corruption fight as a mere sham that is inapplicable to some select sacred cows with no integrity capital,” the petition read.

“It is on this note that we humbly urge your excellency to withhold submission of Justice Abba-Aji to the National Assembly for confirmation as Supreme Court Justice until all investigations of bribery and corruption and misuse of public trust is effectively carried out and evidence of her clearance produced by relevant security agencies as regards the allegations.”