Mohammed Shosanya

The National Judicial Council (NJC),has has set up four probe panels to investigate 27 High Court Judges, over allegations of judicial misconduct filed against them.

The panels were constituted during the 106th meeting of the NJC presided over by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, after due
consideration of the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee on 22 petitions written against 27 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Courts,a statement said on Friday.

The e NJC’s Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye,who signed the statement,stated that the remaining 18 petitions were discountenanced for lacking in merit, abandoned or being subjudice.

Besides,the NJC placed five Judges on its pre-sanction Watch List register for poor performance, stressing that they would be recommended to the Council for appropriate sanction if they do not improve on their performances.

The NJC issued letter of advice to Justice O. M. Olagunju of Oyo State High Court, cautioning him to be circumspect as a judicial officer before acting, even in the most challenging situation.

Justice Olagunju was said to have used uncouch language in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, challenging Council’s decision and its policy direction on appointment of President, Court of the Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State.

The discountenanced petitions, NJC revealed were against Hon. Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, President Court of Appeal, 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 are;Hon. Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Hon. Justices Z. B. Abubakar, James. Kolawole Omotosho, Sunday B. Onu all of the Federal High Court and Justice Okon E. Abang when he was serving at the Federal High Court.

They also include; Hon. Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice Babagana Karumi of the High Court Borno State, Hon. Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of the High Court of Niger State, Hon. Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of Osun State High Court and Hon. Justice Aisha B. Aliyu of Nasarawa State High Court.

Meanwhile, Justice Ariwoola, being the last meeting before he bows out of service, appreciated the cooperation he received from members of the Council and the Council’s secretariat just as he implored them to extend same to his successor.