The National Judicial Council (NJC) has formed four panels to probe 27 High Court Judges who have been accused of various judicial misconduct.
The Council, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), also cautioned Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court.
The legal body, in a statement signed by its Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye, revealed that Justice Olagunju used impolite language in a letter he sent to the CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, challenging the Council’s decision and its Policy Direction on the appointment of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State.
Furthermore, the NJC stated that at its 106th meeting, it reviewed the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee on 22 petitions filed against 27 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Courts.
Based on the findings, the Council appointed four Committees to investigate claims in petitions that were deemed meritorious.
However, it dismissed 18 additional petitions filed against various judges for lack of merit, abandonment, or being subjudice.
The discountenanced petitions were filed against Hon. Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, as well as 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 against it were Hon. Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justices Z. B. Abubakar, James. Kolawole Omotosho, and Sunday B. Onu, all of the Federal High Court, and Justice Okon E. Abang, who served on the Federal High Court. In addition, Hon. Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice Babagana Karumi of the High Court of Borno State, Hon. Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of the High Court of Niger State, Hon. Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of the Osun State High Court, and Hon. Justice Aisha B. Aliyu of the Nasarawa State High Court were all opposed.
The NJC placed five judges on its pre-sanction Watch List Register due to poor performance, stating that the affected judges would be referred for suitable punishments if they did not improve their performance.
In Essence
The NJC’s action emphasizes the importance of holding judges accountable for their conduct. Judicial misconduct, whether in the form of corruption, bias, or improper behavior, can erode public trust in the legal system. By investigating these allegations, the NJC is taking steps to ensure that the judiciary remains a pillar of fairness and justice.
The fact that the NJC dismissed 18 petitions for lack of merit, abandonment, or being subjudice shows a balanced approach. It shows that the Council is not pursuing a witch hunt but is carefully considering each case based on evidence and merit. This careful approach helps to protect judges from frivolous or politically motivated accusations while also ensuring that genuine cases of misconduct are addressed.
