The National Judicial Council (NJC) acquitted five judges of misconduct allegations leveled against them and recommended 38 candidates for various judicial appointments in various states.
This was announced on Friday by the Deputy Director (Information) of the NJC, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, in a statement.
The NJC, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CIN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, made the decisions at its meeting held in Abuja between Wednesday and Thursday.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the NJC implemented sanctions against judges who made mistakes during the meeting.
This included recommending the mandatory retirement of two chief justices for falsifying their ages to dishonestly extend their years of service.
The two senior judges are the Chief Judge of Imo State, TE Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and the Grand Kadi of Yobe State, Babagana Mahdi.
Apart from recommending mandatory retirement of judges to the respective state governors, the NJC also demanded the return of salaries they earned during their illegitimate stay in service.
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This newspaper's previous report also captured other sanctions, including suspension, imposed on other erring judges.
However, the council also acquitted the judges of the accusations contained in the petitions sent against them. Some petitioners withdrew their petitions against some judges.
The council also recommended 38 candidates for various judicial appointments, mostly to the Superior Courts of various states.
Read below excerpts from the statement reflecting the authorization of some judges, recommendations for appointments and other relevant issues.
Federal High Court judge acquitted of four petitions
The Council also deliberated on 4 petitions against the Hon. Justice Peter O. Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja said:
Petition of Mr. Douglas W. Chukwu, Secretary, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission against Hon. Judge Lifu was dismissed, as the petitioner who had previously indicated interest in participating in the hearing of his petition failed, neglected and refused to appear before the Committee.
The Council also finds that allegations of inducement amounting to $1 million, an armored car and the donation of land to the Hon. Justice Lifu's statements presented by Chief Emeka Beke, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State, were not substantiated in any way.
It was also found that the same parties who appeared before the Rivers State High Court, also appeared before the Hon. Justice Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, but did not disclose or inform the Hon. Judge the existence of a sister case in the Rivers State High Court.
The Council noted that the alleged acts of misconduct were in fact perpetuated by the petitioners who brought the case before the Rivers State High Court, after the case had been commenced before the Federal High Court, Abuja, suggesting that looking for a forum.
The Council considers that the Hon. Judge Lifu showed no personal interest in the matter or misconduct in the proceedings and noted that the allegations contained in the petition are now the subject of appeal by the petitioners.
Similarly, the Council dismissed the two petitions of Abednego Oli Benjamin, Chairman of Boot Party, Rivers State Chapter against Hon. Judge Lifu, finding that the allegations of bribery and other corrupt practices against the judge in question were unfounded. It also considers that there is no evidence of misconduct in the ex parte orders issued by the Subject Judge. The Council also noted that ex parte orders are now subject to appeals.
Upon the petition of Dr. GM Giles-West Clark, the Rivers State House of Assembly v. Hon. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, finds that the petition was not supported by a verifying affidavit and was therefore rejected.
In the petition against the Court of Appeal filed by Aham Eke-Ejelama, SAN, the Council finds that the matters were cases that were initiated during the holidays. It also finds that these were urgent matters assigned to the vacation judges and that the vacation judges are in Abuja.
The Council also finds that the statement that the appellants' counsel requested to be heard in Abuja is not correct as only a presiding judge can allocate vacation cases. Consequently, the Council rejected the petition for lack of merit.
The Council subsequently ordered the President of the Court of Appeal to deal with the allocation of resources administratively in the normal course of its activities.
Suspended petitions against judges
Likewise, the petitions against the Hon. Justice Peter C. Obiora, JCA, formerly of the Anambra State High Court and Hon. Justice IS Yerima, Chief Judge of Oyo State, were discontinued by the petitioners through notices of discontinuation sent to the Council.
Petitions dismissed
The request of the Hon. C. Oforma Agbo JP v. Hon. Justice Comfort C. Ani of the Enugu State High Court was investigated and no evidence of judicial misconduct against the judge was found.
The petition against the Hon. Justice Kabir Dabo, Kaduna State High Court of Justice, for Alhaji Samaila Musa, was dismissed for lack of merit as the judge did not violate any law by issuing an arrest warrant against the petitioner.
Furthermore, Hopeson Dike's petition against the Hon. Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam of the Federal High Court was rejected because the petitioner abandoned the proposal and did not comply with the Council's invitation.
Lawyers referred to disciplinary action for filing frivolous petitions against judges
While the NJC is willing to discipline erring judicial officials, it has a duty to protect them against unfounded accusations.
The Council resolved that legal professionals who by themselves or in connivance with litigants write frivolous petitions to blackmail judicial officials will be reported to the Legal Practitioners' Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) or the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC) so that appropriate measures can be taken.
36 candidates recommended for judicial appointments
Furthermore, at the meeting, the Council recommended thirty-six (36) candidates for judicial appointment to its various State Governors.
The recommended ones for appointment are the following:
EIGHT (8) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, OYO STATE
Opayinka, Adeniyi GabrielOyediran, Oloyede SemiuOladejo, Olusoji MosesAdemola-Salami, Oluwaseun ToluwanimiAdesina, Jimoh AdamAdekunle, Yemi SaubanaAdepoju, Olutola Jolade AdenikeMuraina, Olayemi Rasaq
FOUR (4) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, KEBBI STATE
Muhammad, Kwaido HassanIbrahim, Umar HalimaJagwadeji, Suru LauratuMuhammad, Nuruddeen
SEVEN (7) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, SOKOTO STATE
Haruna, Dogondaji MariyaSahabi, Jaredi HadizaAhmad, Sha'aibuHassan, FatimaMohammed, Sa'idu FatimaMuhammad, Nura BelloMoyi, Abubakar
SIX (6) JUDGES, HIGH COURT, AKWA IBOM STATE
Ekanem, James BasseyUmohandi, Mfon WinifredEssien, Bassey IwakaowoMorrison, Henry ComfortNtekim, Edet EkpoEddie, Julius Sharon
SEVEN (7) KADIS, SHARIA APPEAL COURT, SOKOTO STATE
Muhammad, Abdulazeez Yar'AbbaLawal, Isa AbubakarBello, Sokoto IbrahimImam, Abubakar BelloMuhammad, Abibu LawalIbrahim, Bodinga UmarKabiru, Marnona Umar
TWO (2) KADIS, SHARIA APPEAL COURT, KEBBI STATE
Aliyu, Kabir, SANBello, Muhammad Atiku
TWO (2) JUDGES, CONSEQUENTIAL APPELLATE COURT, OYO STATE
Oyediran, Safiya AmopeOjekunle, Ojeyemi Ademola
All recommended candidates are expected to take oath before their respective state governors.