NJC sets up panels to probe 27 judges

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up four panels to investigate the petitions against 27 judges of federal and state courts.

The decision to probe the judges was reached during the NJC’s 106th meeting on Thursday and Friday, presided over by Olukayode Ariwoola, the outgoing chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The NJC resolved to issue a letter of advice to Olusegun Olagunju, a judge of the Oyo high court, for using “uncouth language” in correspondence to Ariwoola, challenging the council on the appointment of the president of the customary court of appeal in the state.

The council also resolved to issue letters of commendation, appreciation, and non-performance to 215 judges of the federation.

“The National Judicial Council, presided over by the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its 106th meeting of 14 and 15 August 2024, resolved to issue a letter of advise to Hon. Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo state high court to be circumspect as a judicial officer before acting, even in the most challenging situation,” Soji Oye, NJC director of information, said in a statement.

“The resolution was made after council considered the report of the committee it set up and mandated it to invite the Hon. Judge to appear before it to defend his uncouth language in a letter addressed to the chief justice of Nigeria, challenging council’s decision viz-a-viz its policy direction on appointment of president, Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo state.

“Council at the meeting considered the report of its preliminary complaints assessment committee on 22 petitions written against 27 judicial officers of the federal and state high courts and decided to empanel four committees to investigate allegations in the petitions that were found meritorious.

“The remaining 18 petitions were discountenanced for lacking of merit, abandoned, or being subjudice.

“The discountenanced petitions are against Hon. Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, CFR, President Court of Appeal, Hon. 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 Hon. Justice J. T. Tsoho, OFR, Chief Judge Federal High Court, Hon. Justices Z. B. Abubakar, J. K. Omotosho, and Sunday B. Onu all of the Federal High Court, and Justice Okon E. Abang when he was serving at the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice Babagana Karumi of the High Court Borno State, Hon. Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of the High Court of Niger State, Hon. Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of Osun State High Court, and Hon. Justice Aisha B. Aliyu of Nasarawa State High Court.

“Petitions written against Justices Ayodele Oyeyemi Oyebisi, Amaobi L. Agara, Amina Garba, Bello M. Tukur, Omeka Elekwa, and O. A. Adetujoye who served at Asaba and Plateau National and State Assembly Election Tribunal Panels.

“Council also considered the report of its performance evaluation of judicial officers of superior courts of record and resolved to issue letters ranging from commendation, appreciation, no submission, and non-performance to 215 judges all over the Federation.

“It also placed five judges on its pre-sanction watch list register for poor performance. They would be recommended to the Council for appropriate sanction if they do not improve on their performance.”