NJC may axe more corrupt  judges

The National Judicial Council (NJC) may have concluded plans to extend sanction against more judges indicted of corrupt practices.

Sources said that some petitions against judges are currently being investigated by the NJC under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

According to the source, the NJC has begun investigations into the petitions which bothers on allegations of bribery and various acts of misconduct capable of bringing to disrepute the image of the nation’s Justice system.

The affected judicial officers, it was gathered, have been requested to respond in writing, to the petitions against them.

Although a source within NJC maintained that some of the petitions were frivolous, the source hinted that some of the petitions were weighty and capable of shaking the integrity of the judiciary.

Last week, the NJC sacked the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division,‎ Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya and Justice Kabiru M. Auta of the High Court of Justice, Kano State.

While the council recommended both Justices Umezulike and Tsamiya for compulsory retirement, it outrightly dismissed Justice Auta from service.

The council further handed over Justice  Auta to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 1, Kano, for prosecution.

According to the spokesperson of the council, Soji Oye‎, Justice Tsamiya was recommended for compulsory retirement from Office to President Muhammadu Buhari, pursuant to the ‘Findings’ by the Council in the petition written by Nnamdi Iro Oji against him and Hon. Justices Husseini Muktar, F. O. Akinbami and J. Y. Tukur, all Justices of Court of Appeal who sat on Election Appeal Panel in the Owerri Division of the Court during the 2015 General Elections.

He added that the Petition contains allegations, among others, corruption, malice, vindictive acts; and giving perverse and conflicting decisions on the same issue in similar matters in Appeal CA/OW/EPT/SN/50/201.

The cases involved are that of Chief Dr. David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex Vs Hon. Mao Onuabunwa & Anor;

CA/OW/EPT/SN/47/2015; Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu & Anor Vs Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa & Ors; and CA/OW/EPT/HR/61/2015: Nnamdi Iro Oji Vs Nkole Uko Ndukwe & 16 Ors.

It would be recalled that the CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, had warned lawyers to cease from forwarding petitions against judicial officers directly to President Muhammadu Buhari.

He gave the warning at the opening of new legal year and conferment of the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria on 22 lawyers, saying lawyers can’t afford to malign the judicial officers.

Addressing the gathering, the CJN assured that the system would not spare any erring judge.

He, therefore, advised them to address their petition to the NJI, which he promised would act on it without delay.

The CJN said: “It is, therefore, of great concern and wonder that the growing trend for our lawyers, litigants and even members of the public to route complaint against judicial officers to the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I am most dismayed that legal practitioners, who ought to better appreciate the need for the independence of their primary constituency, would engage in the misguided practice.

“This dangerous new trend has borne itself out with various complaints ranging from disparaging remarks against judges of our superior courts, to unprecedented, unwarranted and unfortunate personal attack on judicial officers.”