NJC Axes 2 Judges, Warns 3

Two judges have been sacked by the National Judicial Council, NJC, for gross misconduct, while three others were cautioned. The decision to discipline the judges was reached after the apex disciplinary body for the Nigerian judiciary met in Abuja.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, precided over the meeting.

Justice Gladys K. Olotu of a Federal High Court in Abuja and Justice U. A Inyang of the FCT High Court, also in Abuja were sacked by the NJC and also recommended compulsory retirement from office.

This followed an outcome of an investigation into allegations against the affected judges.

“The Hon. Judge admitted before the Fact Finding Committee of the Council that investigated the allegations, that she forgot she had a pending Ruling to deliver in an application for Joinder, and that the Judge entertained a post Judgment matter in Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/250/2003 in Port Harcourt after delivering Judgment, which made her functus officio” the NJC explained in a press statement issued by Mr. Soji Oye, the Council’s Acting Director (Information).

In the case of Justice Inyang, the Council found that the Judge included in his Judgment, references to the Garnishee Proceedings, which came after the Judgment had been delivered on 20th December, 2011 and also included the name of a counsel who came into the matter after the judgment was delivered.

The Council also found that the Judge recklessly signed a Writ of Execution, a day after delivering his judgment on the same day a Notice of Appeal and Motion on Notice for Stay of Execution were filed and that the Judge continued with the Garnishee Proceedings despite application for Stay of Execution.

It also noted that before delivering his Judgment on 20th December, 2011, that the judge ignored a properly filed Motion on Notice for leave to file additional witness Statement on Oath. These conducts contravene these judges oath of office.

In a similar exercise of its disciplinary powers, the National Judicial Council has also issued warning letters to Justice Dalhatu Adamu, who is the Presiding Justice of Court of Appeal Kaduna Division, Justice A. A. Adeleye of Ekiti state High Court and Justice D. O. Amaechina of Anambra state High court respectively.

Justice Dalhatu Adamu was cautioned for deliberately absenting himself from duty, which is an act of gross misconduct contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Code of Conduct of Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

While the duo of Justice Adeleye and Justice Amaechina were found culpable of very low performance and were cautioned for decline in their productivity.