Misconduct: CJN wields big stick, raises probe panels against 2CJs, 13 judges

Lauds Zamfara for sacking judge over N200,000 bribe
Francesca Iwambe, Abuja

Apparently sending a strong signal that the judiciary is on the same page with President Muhammadu Buhari over the war against corruption as the Bench will no longer condone corrupt judges, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has wielded the big stick as he set up probe panels against two Chief Judges and 13 other judges.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) under the chairmanship Justice Onnoghen has therefore set up 15 panels to probe two state chief justices and 13 other judges allegedly accused of misconduct. This development was disclosed in a statement made available on Monday by the NJC’s spokesman, Mr. Soji Oye.

According to Oye, decision was taken during the 83rd meeting of the NJC. He added that the panels will investigate various allegations in the petitions written against the 15 judicial officers including two CJs.

Oye further disclosed that the NJC took the decision after considering the reports of the two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees following 46 petitions written against the judicial officers in the federal and state judiciaries.

But the statement did not disclose the names of the judicial officers being investigated. The NJC also welcomed as good development, a letter from Zamfara State Government, approving its recommendation for the compulsory removal of Justice Musa Anka from office for receiving N200, 000 bribe from Zubairu Abdumalik in order to deliver judgement in his favour.

The Daily Times recalls that the NJC had made the recommendation to the Zamfara State Government in 2011 but the state government did not act on the recommendation until seven years after. The statement however stated that the council dismissed 31 petitions, 29 of which it found to be without merit.

It added that the remaining two written against Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court and Justice O. O. Akeredolu, Acting Chief Judge of Ondo State, were withdrawn at the instance of the petitioners. According to the statement, a firm, Al-Sagr National Insurance Company, which wrote against Justice Tsoho withdrew its petition since the judge had delivered the ruling in its case.

A litigant, Raheem Badmus, who wrote against Justice Akeredolu, also voluntarily withdrew his petition for personal reasons.

The statement 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, Plateau State Chapter, accusing 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 November 4, 2016 available to him till the time he wrote the petition.

But the NJC said it decided not to constitute an Investigative Committee to look into the matter on the grounds that the accused judge had already retired from service and was therefore no longer in the employment of the NJC. In other cases, the NJC considered and dismissed petitions written against two other judicial officers for lack of merit.

The judges are L. T. C. Eruba – Abia State High Court ; and Grand Kadi Abdullahi Waiya – Sharia’h Court of Appeal, Kano State. The NJC also decided to issue two letters of advice to Justice M. A. Dada of the Lagos State High Court and 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 the judges by Dayo Adamolekun A Esq & Ridwanulah Olanite, Esq. and Reverend F. U. Ekavhiare & Associates respectively.

The council further agreed to report a lawyer, Mr Adesina Ogunlana, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for misconduct, following the use of uncouth language in a petition written to the NJC against the immediate past Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice O. O. Atilade.