NJC Probes 27 High Court Judges Over Alleged Misconduct

By Ayodele Oni

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has constituted four probe panels to investigate 27 high court judges over various alleged judicial misconduct against them.

This is as the Council issued letter of advice to Justice O. M. Olagunju of Oyo State High Court to be circumspect as a Judicial Officer before acting, even in the most challenging situation.

Justice Olagunju was said to have used foul language in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, challenging Council’s decision and its Policy Direction on appointment of President, Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State.

At its 106th meeting presided over by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, NJC considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee on 22 petitions written against 27 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Courts.

Based on the report of the preliminary committee, the Council constituted four Committees to investigate allegations in the petitions that were found meritorious.

A statement by the NJC Director of Information, Mr Soji Oye on Friday in Abuja however said that the remaining 18 petitions were dismissed for lacking in merit, abandoned or being subjudice.

Besides, NJC placed five Judges on its pre-sanction watch list register for poor performance and would be recommended to the Council for appropriate sanction if they do not improve on their performance.

Justice Ariwoola who  attended the last meeting before his retirement, appreciated the cooperation he received from members of the Council and the Council’s Secretariat and implored them to extend same to his successor.

Members of the Council in return eulogized the outgoing CJN and Chairman one after the other and wished him good health in retirement.