NJC to Investigate 27 Judges for Alleged Misconduct

NJC panels are set to investigate 27 judges accused of misconduct, as the council seeks to uphold judicial integrity.

To scrutinize the reported cases of judicial misconduct against 27 high court judges in Nigeria, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has created four inquiry committees.

A letter of advice was also issued by the Council.

As a judicial officer, Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court should exercise prudence in all actions taken, especially when encountering difficult circumstances.

It has been reported that Justice Olagunju employed crude language in a communication directed at the Chief Justice of Nigeria, objecting to both the Council’s ruling and its Policy Direction pertaining to appointing an individual as President of the Court of Appeal for Customary Law, Oyo State.

During the 106th meeting chaired by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, the National Judicial Council (NJC) reviewed a report from its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee about twenty-two complaints filed against twenty-seven judicial officials serving in Federal and State High Courts.

Four committees were established by the Council to investigate allegations in petitions deemed meritorious after receiving a report from the preliminary committee.

On Friday in Abuja, the Director of Information for NJC, Mr. Soji Oye stated that 18 petitions were dismissed due to a lack of merit, abandonment or subjudice.

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Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal and other Justices including 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 have received petitions expressing disapproval towards them for discounted actions made on their part while serving at the Court of Appeal.

Justice John Tsoho and Justices Z. B. Abubakar, James Kolawole Omotosho, Sunday B. Onu are among the distinguished judges of the Federal High Court, alongside Justice Okon E. Abang who previously served at that court. Notably also in this esteemed group is Chief Judge of the Federal High Court

Justice Kayode Agunloye from the FCT High Court, Justice Babagana Karumi representing the Borno State High Court, Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of Niger State’s High Court system and finally Justices A.A. Aderibigbe and Aisha B. Aliyu hailing from Osun State and Nasarawa States’ respective high courts complete this list of individuals being recognized for their legal service within Nigeria’s judiciary sector.

Additionally, the pre-sanction watchlist register of NJC contains five judges who have been identified as underperforming and will be recommended to the Council for sanction if they fail to improve their performance.

Justice Ariwoola, who was attending his final meeting before retirement as CJN, expressed gratitude for the Council members and Secretariat’s cooperation. He requested that they extend the same level of support to his successor.

In response, the Council paid tribute to the departing CJN and expressed their well wishes for his health during retirement.