The National Judicial Council (NJC), led by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, is set to hold an important meeting soon to review reports from several committees that investigated allegations of misconduct involving serving judicial officers.

This meeting will be the first chaired by Justice Kekere-Ekun and is expected to be the last of the year, barring any unexpected events. The announcement has stirred concern within the judiciary, especially after the Chief Justice’s recent pledge to take firm action against errant judicial officers.

A source close to the NJC confirmed that the meeting date would be set once Justice Kekere-Ekun returns from an official engagement abroad. The Chief Justice is reportedly determined to address the current negative perception of the judiciary and restore order to the system. “The Chief Justice is eagerly awaiting the reports from the various panels to act decisively,” the source said.

Between May and August 2024, 22 petitions were filed against 27 judges from both federal and state high courts. The NJC referred these to the Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, which examined them and dismissed 18 due to lack of merit, abandonment, or because the matters were subjudice, still pending in higher courts.

In June 2024, the NJC set up eight panels to investigate another set of judges for alleged misconduct. These panels reviewed 35 petitions against 33 judicial officers from appellate and state courts, finding eight petitions with merit. Four additional panels were formed on August 15, 2024, to further investigate judges for whom a prima facie case had been established.

Currently, 12 petitions from the initial 55 remain under investigation by various NJC standing committees. Each committee, comprising a chairman and two council members, forwarded copies of the petitions to the involved judges, allowing them to submit written and oral defenses with legal representation. Although the committees were instructed to complete their reviews by October 31, 2024, some judges requested extensions, citing multiple petitions. The committees granted an additional 24 hours and emphasized the need for timely responses.

An NJC source mentioned that the upcoming meeting could redefine how such cases are handled under Justice Kekere-Ekun’s leadership. “I think this new CJN will recalibrate the perception of the judiciary and its legitimacy,” the source added.

Ahead of the meeting, leading lawyers have called on the NJC to address the recent crisis in Rivers State, where conflicting orders from two high court judges of coordinate jurisdiction sparked debates over the legality of local council elections held on October 5, 2024.

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