NJC: On the match to clean judiciary of filth?

The National Judicial Council was seemingly inactive in playing the roles that would not only fish out the bad eggs among the judiciary but also give the third estate of the realm its desired respect in the country.

But the appointment of Justice Fatima Aloma Muktar as the Chief Justice of the Federation three years ago awoke the NJC from its deep slumber in line with the resolve of Justice Aloma to ensure that the nation’s judiciary regained its strength.

Her reign witnessed relative bite of the NJC which correspondingly called to question judicial officials found wanting in the discharge of their onerous task.

For instance, under the tenure of Aloma as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Council suspended Justice Abubakar Talba of the High Court, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja from office for a period of one year without pay over the judgment he delivered in the case of the police pension fund thief, John Yakubu Yusuf.

Yakubu was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the three counts to which he pleaded guilty with an option of N250,000 on each count as fine.

The NJC also suspended the former Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice P.N.C. Agumagu and did not recommend his appointment to the governor of Rivers for appointment as the state Chief Judge.

Aloma’s exit didn’t diminish the bite of the NJC as her predecessor promised to sustain the tempo the council has found, especially in the quest to nip in the bud corruption among the member of the silk in the country.

Last week, the NJC sacked Justice O. Gbajabiamila of Lagos State High Court and Justice Idris M. J. Evuti of the Niger State High Court for judicial misconduct.

One of two other judges was also suspended on account of age falsification and ordered to refund all salaries he received from June last year, while the other, though retired, was ordered to have all salaries earned till June 2015 deducted from his gratuity and paid to the NJC, being the body responsible for payment of salaries to all judicial officers.
The council which is headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said it took the decision at the end of a meeting held on April 13 and 14.

NJC okayed Justice Gbajabiamila’s sack after it found that he delivered judgment in a matter before him 22 months after written addresses were adopted by all the parties and 35 months after the close of evidence in the suit. The council said after it investigated a petition lodged before it by Mr. C. A. Candide-Johnson, SAN, it concluded that the action the judge took in suit No ID\1279\2007 P. K. Ojo Vs SDV & SCOA Nigeria Plc, was contrary to constitutional provisions that judgments should be delivered within a period of 90 days.
Besides, NJC, said it found two other judges of the High Court of Niger State, Justices Evuti and Tanko Yusuf Usman, guilty of allegations that they falsified their dates of birth. It said the judges were indicted on the basis of a petition filed against them by one Mohammed Idris Eggun.

NJC said though it did not suspend Justice Usman because he had earlier voluntarily retired from office, it, however, ordered him to refund all the salaries he received from June last year.

It ordered the compulsory retirement of Chief Judge of Abia State,Justice Shadrach Nwanosike over allegation of age falsification.
Also Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was also asked to proceed on compulsory retirement after the NJC, found him guilty of judicial misconduct.

The NJC, further said it has decided to place Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on the “Watch-List” for the next four years, following her alleged complicity in acts of judicial misconduct.

The council, issued a stern warning to the judge,also said Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia would not be considered for any elevation to the Court of Appeal or any ad-hoc judicial appointment till her retirement from the Bench.

Early this month,the National Judicial Council queried a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, who is accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of receiving financial gratification from a senior lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN).
The development was sequel to a petition by a civil society group, Civil Society Network Against Corruption, was signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

There are overtures on the NJC to ensure that judges found wanting should be dismissed rather than being suspended which will eventually see their return to the bench after exhausting the period of their sanctions.

Former President of Nigerian Bar Association(NBA),Chief Olisa Agbakoba said it was important for the judiciary to be rid of all forms of corrupt and fraudulent officers, so as to forestall a collapse of the system.

“With the recent sanctions on corrupt judges, other judges must now come to terms with the fact that the long arm of the law is lurking, and they must take a cue, lest they fall victims themselves,” he said.

He commended the NJC and urged it to keep up the good work and ensure that the nation’s judicial system is rid of filth.
Stakeholders in the judiciary are also of the opinion that the NJC should sustain the current momentum of bringing accountability and responsibility on judicial officers in the country in line with the current change mantra being propagated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.