Judges Face Disciplinary Action over Conflicting Ex-parte Orders

By Uche Mbah

After their bosses were summoned by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammed Tanko, three State High Court Judges who gave conflicting ex-parte orders are to face the National Judicial Council, NJC.

The CJN had initially summoned six Judges in charge of the six geopolitical zones of the Federation, in connection with the worrisome regime of conflicting ex-parte orders recently dished out by Judges in their Jurisdiction.

Three High Court Judges are directly involved in the current cases.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up a probe panel to investigate the three High Court Judges who issued conflicting ex-parte orders on the same subject matter.

Soji Oye, the Director of Information, Supreme Court, said in a statement Friday that they will face the NJC panel to show why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for such actions.

According to Oye, the Council constituted the panel at its 95th meeting held September 15 and 16.

The CJN Presided over the meeting as Chairman of the NJC, where disciplinary actions were proposed against judges.

“Council resolved to set up a Medical Board to ascertain the health status of Hon. Justice Amina Yaroson of Kaduna State Customary Court of Appeal”, Oye said.

“Council also considered the reports of its Investigations and decided to issue a warning letter to Justice Sobre Bimbo of High Court of Rivers State for descending into the Arena of conflict in a matrimonial Suit No: OHC/IMC/2018.

“Council at its plenary considered the reports of the two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees (PCAC) on the petitions written against 18 Judicial Officers and on the recommendation of the Committee.

“In the end, NJC issued a letter of advice to Justice Elias O. Abua of Cross River State High Court to in future be wary of granting an order of execution of a judgment which appeared executory as the one he granted in Suit No. HC/MSC/67/2019.

“Council, however, dismissed the petitions written against Justices Inyang Ekwo and Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, O. O. Ogunjobi, S. B. A. Candide-Johnson and S. A. Onigbanjo of High Court of Lagos State, Justices Chiwendu Nwogu, S. C. Amadi and Ahuku, for either lacking in merit, subjudice or statute-barred.

“Other petitions dismissed for the same reasons were those written against Justices I. K. Banu, Chief Judge, of Adamawa, A. L. Lagre, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Adamawa, Felibus B. Andetur, Chief Judge, Taraba State and Sunday Olorundahunsi of Ondo State, High Court.

“The rest are those against Justices Nse Daniel of Akwa-Ibom State High Court and H. T. D. Gwadah of Kaduna State High Court’’.

The petition written against Justice Ishaq Bello was dropped as he has already retired from the service.

The plenary of the Council also recommended 12 candidates as Heads of Court, 18 candidates as High Court Judges, 6 candidates as Kadis of Sharia Courts of Appeal, and one candidate as Customary Court of Appeal Judge.