The National Judicial Council, NJC, has recommended the sack of Justice S. O. Falola of the Osun State High Court.
The recommendation followed an investigation of a petition by one Dapo Olowo and Polaris Bank which accused the judge of granting a Garnishee Order Absolute against the Bank in the sum of Two Hundred and Eighty-Three Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand Naira
The investigation found that the order was issued in a questionable and strange manner, as the judge also issued a garnishee on another account different from that of the judgment debtor.
The investigation also showed that the Judge had been travelling to Lagos to visit the lawyer representing the Bank, an action it said was unbecoming of the standard expected of a Judicial Officer.
The NJC resolved to recommend the erring judge to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for compulsory retirement pending which, the judge has been directed to proceed on suspension.
The NJC has also issued a caution notice to Justice A. I. Akobi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, while it dismissed petition written against the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot.
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Other petitions dismissed include those against Justice Benson Anya of the High Court of Abia State, Justice Z B Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Justice Opufaa Ben-Whyte and Augusta Uche K. Chuku of the High Court of Rivers State.
The NJC has also constituted eleven panels to investigate fifty one fresh petitions written against Federal and State Judicial Officers.
On the ongoing faceoff between the Governor of Osun State and the Chief Judge of the State, the NJC declined the request of the Governor to swear in another judge in acting capacity, affirming that Justice Ojo is still the recognized Chief Judge of Osun State, despite the resolution of the State House of Assembly. The council maintained that it is the only body constitutionally empowered to investigate Judicial Officers and recommend same for any action to the Governor.
Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), A. A. Aribisala, has been referred to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) for investigation and disciplinary action, for derogatory remarks he made against a Judicial Officer.
Editor: Ken Eseni
