NJC suspends three judges, cautions seven over abuse of office, misconduct

NJC suspends three judges, cautions seven over abuse of office, misconduct

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended three judges for one year without pay over unlawful detention of litigants and abuse of power.

The council also approved the issuance of warning letters and caution to judicial officers over different forms of misconduct.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, deputy director (information) of the NJC, said the decisions were reached during the council’s 112th meeting, which took place on Tuesday.

The suspended judges are Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of Nasarawa high court; Mohammed Sani Salihu of Jigawa sharia court of appeal; and Sobere Biambo of Rivers high court.

Babalola-Ogedengbe said Kabir was suspended for one year without pay and handed a three-year restriction on elevation over the “issuance of bench warrants and imposition of fines on litigants in a civil dispute without due process”.

Salihu was suspended for one year without pay over his “involvement in reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court”.

Biambo was suspended for one year without pay and a three-year restriction on elevation over alleged “issuance of bench warrants and imposition of fines on litigants in a civil dispute without due process”.

CAUTION/WARNING

The NJC approved the issuance of caution/warning to six judicial officers, including the placement of some on watch list for six months.

The affected judges are Bello Kawu and Mohammed Zubairu, both from the FCT high court; Danjuma Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana, both from the Nasarawa state high court; C. A. Ogbuagor of Enugu state high court; and Chibuike L. Azuama of the Imo state high court.

The council found merit in a petition against Kawu over his grant of an interim bail to Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, despite a subsisting remand order issued by another judge of the same court.

The NJC directed that he should be issued a warning letter and placed on its watchlist.

The NJC committee found merit in a petition against Oyigbenu and Kana over their failure to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90 days.

The commission adopted the investigation committee’s finding that Zubairu acted improperly by entertaining an application and making orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the court of appeal.

NJC directed that Zubairu be cautioned and placed on its watchlist.

The NJC also observed that Ogbuagor exhibited “judicial impertinence” and disregarded due process by continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for stay of proceedings.

Ogbuagor cautioned and advised him to familiarise himself with the law and procedures governing appeals.

The council directed that Azuama be cautioned, placed on its watchlist and advised to take his judicial responsibilities seriously.

The NJC found that Azuama granted an ex parte garnishee order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a non-party to the substantive suit.

Kayode Agunloye of the FCT high court was cautioned in one of the petitions over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings in a suit involving First Bank of Nigeria.

DISMISSED PETITIONS

The NJC dismissed petitions against two judges, B. M. Balarabe and Evelyn N. Anyadike, after they were withdrawn.

The council struck out the petition against Peter O. Ikujuni of the Ondo state high court for “being leaked/published in social media”.

The NJC also dismissed the petition against Abdullahi Mika’ilu of the Niger state high court for want of diligent prosecution.

The council also decided to continue investigation on the petition against G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi high court
despite notice of withdrawal by the petitioner.

Justice Kekere-Ekun