NJC probes 7 judges, dismisses petition against Justice Odili, 25 others

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up panels to probe seven judges accused of engaging in sundry acts of corruption. A statement signed by the Director of Information at the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye,

said the meeting was chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who doubles as the chairman of the council.

In a statement by its president, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), the NBA described as shocking a public confession by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa that he influenced decisions of his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, while she was the president of the appellate court, calling for an investigation. The council said it considered reports from various investigation committees and the Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees on petitions written against 33 judicial officers from both the appellate and the high courts, and agreed with the recommendation of the committee that the seven judges have questions to answer.

Nevertheless, the NJC disclosed that petitions against 26 others, including a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Peter Odili, were dismissed. “The dismissed petitions were written against Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili, Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justices A. R. Barka, James G. Abundaga, O. O. Olasumbo Goodluck, Ibrahim A. Andetur-Yangsto all of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justices F. O. Liman, A. R. Mohammed, H. A. A. Dashen, Peter Lifu, F. O. G. Ogunbanjo, A. Lewis Allagoa, D. E. Osiagor all of the Federal High Court.

“Others are Hon. Justice Theresa O. Diai, Chief Judge, Delta State, Hon. Justices S. B. Belgore, K. N. Ogbonnaya Jude Onwuegbuzie, Edward Okpe of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Hon. Justices Joseph I Acha, Vesty O. Eboreime, both of High Court, Edo State, Hon. Justices Thelma Adanna Achom, Elvis A. Ngene of the Ebonyi State High Court, Hon. Justices A. B. Usman, M. M. Abubakar of Bauchi State High Court, Hon. Justice O. A. Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Oladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court, Justice Gegele A. Hammed of Kwara State High Court, Justice K. N. Udobong of Akwa-Ibom State High Court, ” among others.