CJN Justice Walter Onnoghen
CJN Justice Walter Onnoghen
NJC Dismisses Two Judges Over Corruption, 26 others Face
Probe
The National Judicial Council (NJC) under the Chairmanship of the
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
has recommended the dismissal from office of two Judges, Justice R.
N. Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and Justice James T.
Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia was recommended to President
Muhammadu Buhari, for dismissal from office pursuant to the
findings by the Council on the allegations of misconduct contained
in a petition to the Council by the Acting Executive Chairman of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim
Magu.
Magu had in the petition alleged that Justice R. N.
Ofili-Ajumogobia is a Director/Chief Executive Officer and sole
signatory to Nigel and Colive Company contrary to the Code of
Conduct for Judicial Officers in the country.
He also alleged that several personalities, individuals,
government officials and business partners lodged funds into
various accounts belonging to theJudge.
The EFCC boss also alleged that there was an ex-parte
communication between the Judge and Mr. Godwin Oblah, SAN, during
the pendency of his matter before the Judge.
The NJC, however, could not consider other allegations in the
petition because they are already before a court where the judge is
standing trial. Council left those matters for the trial to take
its legal course.
Justice James T. Agbadu-Fishim of the National Industrial Court
of Nigeria was also recommended for dismissal from office sequel to
the findings of the Council on the allegations contained in another
petition by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that the Judge received various
sums of money from litigants and lawyers that had cases before him,
and some influential Nigerians, under the false pretence that he
was bereaved or that there was delay in the payment of his
salary.
A statement by the NJC Director of information Mr. Soji Oye said
that the offense is contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial
Officers in the country.
In the interim, the NJC, in exercise of its disciplinary powers
under paragraph 21 (d) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, has suspended
Justices R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia and James T. Agbadu-Fishim with
immediate effect pending their removal from office by the
President.
The Council rejected the letter of voluntary retirement,
purported to be with effect from the 1st of October 2018, submitted
to it by Justice Joshua E. Ikede of the Delta State High Court.
This followed the findings on an allegation of falsification of
age contained in a petition written by Zik Gbemre, National
Co-ordinator of Niger Delta Peace Coalition.
NJC found that the Judge ought to have retired since 1st October
2016.
Consequently, it backdated his retirement to 2016 and
recommended to the Government of Delta State to deduct from the
retirement benefits of the judge, all salaries received by him from
October, 2016 till date and remit it to NJC which pays salaries of
all Judicial Officers in the Federation.
The NJC also decided to issue a Letter of Advice to Justice K.
C. Nwakpa of High Court of Abia State to guard against unwarranted
utterances in matters before him.
This was as a result of a complaint to the Council by one
Princewill Ukegbu.
The Council considered the reports of various Investigation
Committees and dismissed the petitions written against Justice
Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory,
Justice E. O. Osinuga of the High Court of Ogun State, and Justice
E. O. Ononeze-Madu of the High Court of Imo State.
The petition by Wema Bank against JusticeYusuf Halilu of the FCT
High Court was dismissed because the allegation of misconduct was
not established.
The judge’s handling of the related matter did not amount to the
alleged misconduct.
The petition on allegation of inducement, bias and alteration of
Ruling written by David Olawepo Efunwape, Esq. against Justice E.
O. Osinuga of High Court, Ogun State was found to be false.
The NJC therefore, decided to report David Olawepo Efunwape,
Esq., to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for
appropriate sanctions for making false allegations against a
judge.
The petition written by Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu against
Justice E. O. Ononeze Madu was dismissed by the Council for lack of
merit.
The Council also decided to warn the Petitioner and asked him to
apologise to the Judge for the false allegation of inducement.
New petitions written against twenty-six (26) Judicial Officers
from the Federal and State High Courts were considered by Council,
after which it resolved to empanel four (4) Committees to
investigate.
The remaining petitions were summarily dismissed for obvious and
manifest lack of merit, being subjudice, concerning administrative
matters, or that such petitions were matters for appeal.
The dismissed petitions were against Justice J. O. Bada,
Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Benin Division, Justice
Abdul-Kafarati, Chief Judge, Federal High Court and Justices I. N.
Buba, H. R. Shagari, R. M. Aikawa, O. E. Abang all of the Federal
High Court; Justice Marshal Umukoro, Chief Judge, Delta State and
Justice E. G. Timi also of the Delta State High Court, Justice S.
U. Dikko, Chief Judge, Nasarawa State, Justice P. N. C. Umeadi,
Chief Judge, Anambra State, Justices A. O. Opesanwo, A. J. Coker
both of Lagos State High Court, Justice C. I. Gabriel Nwankwo,
President, Customary Court of Appeal, River State,. Justices C. A.
Okirie and G. O. Omeji both of River State High Court, Justice
Iniabasi Udobong of High Court, Akwa-Ibom State, Justice S. O.
Falola of High Court, Osun State, Grand Kadi, Sokoto State,.
Justice I. B. Ahmed of Katsina State High Court and Justice
Patricia Mahmoud formerly of the Kano State High Court before her
elevation to the Court of Appeal.
By PRNigeria