The National Judicial Council, NJC, has constituted four probe panels to investigate 27 high court judges in the country over various alleged judicial misconduct brought against them.
In a statement issued by the National Judicial Council, information officer Soji Oye, the Council also issued letter of advice to Justice O. M. Olagunju of Oyo State High Court 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.
At its 106th meeting presided over by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, the NJC also considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee on 22 petitions written against 27 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Courts.
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Four Committees were also empaneld to investigate allegations in the petitions that were found meritorious.
The remaining 18 petitions were discountenanced for lacking in merit, abandoned or being subjudice.
The discountenanced petitions are against Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President Court of Appeal, Justices E. O. Williams Dawodu, B. A. Georgewill, Yargata Timpar, S. D. Samchi, Aisha Aliyu, A. A. Aderibigbe M. L. Shuaibu, H. A. O. Abiru and Abdulazeez Waziri all of the Court of Appeal.
Others are Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Justices Z. B. Abubakar, James. Kolawole Omotosho, Sunday B. Onu all of the Federal High Court and Justice Okon Abang when he was serving at the Federal High Court.
The rest are Justice Kayode Agunloye of the FCT High Court, Justice Babagana Karumi of the High Court Borno State, Hon. Justice Maimuna Abubakar of the High Court of Niger State, Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of Osun State High Court and Justice Aisha Aliyu of Nasarawa State High Court.
The NJC however placed five Judges on its pre-sanction Watch List register for poor performance and would be recommended to the Council for appropriate sanction if they do not improve on their performance.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
