NJC Probes 15 Judges Over Alleged Misconduct, Dismisses 51 Petitions Against Others

By Ayodele Oni

The National Judicial Council (NJC) is set to discipline some judicial officers found wanting in the course of performing their duties.

The NJC at its just concluded 99 council meeting, resolved to investigate some Judges based on petitions against them.

Already, the council has set up 15 high powered probe panels to investigate alleged gross misconduct against 15 Judges of the Federal and State High Courts.

The panels are to determine the culpability of the Judges in the various petitions filed against them by individuals and corporate bodies.

This was contained in a statement by the NJC Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the Council’s 99th meeting, presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, considered 66 petitions it received from different parts of the country.

The decision, the statement stated,  is sequel to the submission of recommendations of three Preliminary Complaint Assessment Committees which sat on the various complaints.

The statement is however silent on identities of the affected Judges to be probed, their divisions and specific nature of their alleged offences.

The Council dismissed petitions against 51Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Courts for either lack of merit, being subjudice, or being matters for appeal or that the concerned Judge have retired from Service.

The statement explained that the Council was formally presented with the reviewed Judicial Information Technology Policy, which established the general requirements and responsibilities for the Nigerian Judiciary systems and information.

“The policy provides for guidance of Courts and Judicial Bodies in protecting Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA) of judiciary function and process.

” It also stipulates guidance for acceptable use of system, services and technologies as well as provisions for secure storage of judicial data and recovery processes in the event of emergencies or distress.

“Similarly, It further provides guidelines and incident management policies including Data Centre deployment and use policies.

“The Scope is intended for all Courts and Judicial Bodies in Nigeria including staff of the Nigerian judiciary, employed or contracted to any Judicial Body handling information that is generated, received, stored, transmitted, or printed.

“It encompasses all personal or Judiciary identifiable data held in their Courts and Judicial Bodies’ systems and process including supporting mechanisms and technologies for managing such data at rest or in transit.

“All staff are expected to comply with the policy and associated standard protocols and procedures that have been put in place to support the document.

“The policy is applicable to all Courts unit, departments of all Judicial Bodies in the Nigerian Judiciary.

“Council noted appointments of Judicial Officers recommended for appointment at the last meeting who have been sworn –in as Judges of Federal and State High Courts.

“Reports from Standing and ad-hoc Committees of the Council were also presented at the Meeting as well as notifications of retirement of 16 Judges  and notification of death of a Judge from the Federal and State High Courts.”