NJC Empanels Four (4) Committees To Investigate Judicial Officers, Issues Letter Of Advice To A Judge
The National Judicial Council (NJC), presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, held its 106th Meeting on August 14-15, 2024.
Soji Oye, Esq., Director of Information, said this in a statement on Friday, August 16, 2024.
During the meeting, the Council made several significant decisions, including issuing a letter of advice to Hon. Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court, urging the judge to be more circumspect in their actions, even under challenging circumstances.
The Council’s resolution to advise Justice Olagunju came after considering the report of a committee set up to investigate the judge’s use of unbecoming language in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria. In the letter, Justice Olagunju had challenged the Council’s decision and Policy Direction on the Appointment of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Oyo State.
In addition to the advice issued to Justice Olagunju, the NJC also considered a report from its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee regarding 22 petitions written against 27 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Courts. The Council decided to empanel four committees to investigate allegations in the petitions that were found to have merit, while the remaining 18 petitions were dismissed for lacking merit, being abandoned, or being subjudice.
The dismissed petitions were against several high-ranking judicial officers, including Hon. Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, CFR, President of the Court of Appeal, and Hon. Justice J. T. Tsoho, OFR, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, among others. The Council also considered petitions written against Justices Ayodele Oyeyemi Oyebisi, Amaobi L. Agara, Amina Garba, Bello M. Tukur, Omeka Elekwa, and O. A. Adetujoye, who served on the Asaba and Plateau National and State Assembly Election Tribunal Panels.
Furthermore, the NJC considered its Performance Evaluation of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of record and resolved to issue letters ranging from commendation, appreciation, no submission, and non-performance to 215 Judges nationwide. The Council also placed five Judges on its pre-sanction Watch List register for poor performance, and they would be recommended for appropriate sanctions if their performance does not improve.
As this meeting was the last before his retirement, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, expressed his appreciation for the cooperation he received from Council Members and the Council’s Secretariat, urging them to extend the same support to his successor. Council Members also praised the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, wishing him good health in retirement.
